Joke store up for sale after 33 years in city

A joke and costume shop that has been a mainstay in a city centre for 33 years has been put up for sale.

Jokers Corner, in Far Gosford Street, in Coventry, has been popular with students and locals for more than three decades.

Sara Hennessy, who owns the store, took over from her mother in 2024 after she moved back to her native Australia.

The shop owner said she was selling the store with a "heavy heart" and hoped it would still be a joke shop after it changed hands.

Queues can often be seen outside the store ahead of Halloween in October, such is its popularity.

Ms Hennessy said she needed to move on from the shop so that she could spend more time with her family.

"The main reason for the sale is that I'm now doing it on my own after my mum moved back to Australia and it's just a little bit too much trying to run a family and a small business," she said.

"I've done 18 Halloweens here now, so I really think it needs someone with some fresh eyes and maybe a bit more enthusiasm.

"It's a great little shop."

Ms Hennessy said she's also seen a change in the Far Gosford Street area of Coventry, particularly since the pandemic, which is making it more challenging to run a small business.

"There're a lot of small businesses that have gone," she said.

"There's not a lot bringing people to this street because we have a lot of barbers and a lot of chicken shops.

"Bit by bit people are moving on, and that's a bit of a shame."

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