A dry cleaner’s has made the sad decision to leave Horsney Rise after 38 years in the “family”.

Bogards, in Hazellville Road, has been in the community since 1980, when Oktay Mustafa put every penny he had into opening the shop.

He more than succeeded. The shop did good business, but also became a community focal point.

Oktay’s son, Mustafa, took over in 2004 having grown up alongside the shop’s lifespan. But due to a combination of personal reasons and the rising costs of running it, he has decided to shut down on July 28.

Mustafa told the Gazette: “I don’t think it will hit me until I leave.

“I’ve spent my whole life round here. I was educated locally, at Ashmount Primary and St Aloysius. It wasn’t an easy decision but circumstances have led us this way.”

He will begin to study for a law degree in September, and plans to travel.

Mustafa continued: “It’s my chance to do something different, and business has been getting harder. The shop has continued to do well, but the costs have been building up, from business rates to street sweeping payments.

“I think the best option is to move on. I will really miss the people, it’s like a family up here.”

Looking back on his dad’s arrival in Hazellville Road, Mustafa said: “My dad ran a dry cleaners in Barkingside, but he thought this was a great location.

“It was an old dilapidated bric-a-brac shop and all his friends told him it wouldn’t work. But he was still determined to go ahead with it.

“He put all his money into opening it. I remember him saying he was standing outside the shop the night before it opened and he got his money out. He had £1.74, that was all he had.

“He was under pressure – he had a mortgage, a wife, two kids – but he never looked back.”

Explaining why Bogards has been so popular, Mustafa added: “The business grew through good service and reliability. But I would say it’s not just a dry cleaners, it is truly part of the community.

“People would come in here for a chat. We’ve helped elderly people who were struggling with their mobile phones. We’ve helped people get into their house when they were locked out. I’ve even serviced people’s cars!”