Sunday marked the final day of business for Hewett Newsagents in Monkstown, Dublin, a well-established corner store that has been serving the community for 75 years. Thelma Hewett (67) and her husband David (78) have been at the helm for the last 42 years, inheriting the business when David’s father could no longer continue due to a stroke. The day was marked by constant streams of patrons, bringing gifts of flowers, chocolates, and prosecco to show their gratitude.
Located centrally on Carrickbrennan Road, the newsagents had been an integral part of village life since its doors first opened in 1949. As they locked up for the final time ever, the Hewetts spoke of a street party thrown for them, replete with a gazebo and sandwiches provided by a neighbourhood eatery. The event turned into a reunion of sorts, with customers who had children 20 years ago now bringing their families along. In a nice gesture of goodwill, the couple distributed most of their Sunday newspapers for free.
Print media such as newspapers, periodicals, and magazines accounted for about 50% of the shop’s total revenue, and David would rise every day at 4:30 AM to meet the supply trucks. Thelma reflected on their work, saying, “Retail is a calling,” and while there were days they had to mask their frustrations, the happy memories made it all worthwhile.
She reminisced about the prestige associated with running a newsagents when they first opened, how her father-in-law, a former president of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, even met De Valera, the prominent statesman. They were trusted with the task of delivering news, but times have changed.
She expressed their regret in deciding to shut down their beloved shop only a week ago. The couple voiced their concern over the plight of independent businesses being replaced by large corporations. With an increasing number of people turning to social media for news, the demand for print media has been dwindling, making it untenable for the Hewetts to continue their enterprise.
The shifting dynamics of the newspaper trade have left a younger generation that has likely never experienced the pleasure of physically flipping through a newspaper, lamented one couple. This absence of hard print news consumption serves as both a critical commentary on the transformation of modern reading culture and as one of the contributing factors that led to the decision to discontinue their newspaper delivery service.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been significant on their business. Where once the couple and their daughter had a select clientele for home newspaper delivery, the health crisis exponentially increased this demand. However, even as the pandemic subsided, a majority of these customers continued to rely on home deliveries.
In addition, the physical footfall they relied on from Monkstown locals, particularly from church-goers from across the street, significantly dwindled with the rise of online services. This change contributed to a depressing decrease in their business from this demographic.
Adding to the challenges is the shift from physical paper editions of news to instant digital access. The couple reminisced how before, print editions of papers such as the Evening Herald would be delivered by a courier throughout the day. But the digital era has made that practice obsolete, replacing it with quick, online news updates.
The couple expressed their devastation over the end of a chapter, but also a sense of anticipation for what future holds. The family’s property, now in market for rent at an annual cost of €30,000, has drawn interest, particularly from an individual considering opening a coffee shop, though no contracts have been signed as yet.