Osborne's Gift Shop is closing down after having been a fixture in Dean Street since at least the 1930s.

The store has been owned by the Abikhair family since the late 1940s, following its formation by Violet Ellen Osborne as a fancy goods shop.

The death in January of Allan Abikhair, who grew up in a residence once at the rear of the store, has prompted the decision to close.

Managing the closure is Sandra Kilo who began as a shop assistant at Osborne's in 1979 upon leaving school.

She later quit to have a family and returned in 1997 and four years ago became the last full-time employee.

"It's been a big part of my life," Mrs Kilo said, tearing up at the thought of it closing.

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"I can remember always the Christmas times when the kids came and made ribbons and bows for the parcels.

"It's been generation and generation (of shoppers) and a lot of people say 'I bought my wedding ring here or my engagement ring here' and they've been married for 50 years."

Assisting Mrs Kilo for the closing down sale is Louise Hartung, who has come out of retirement after starting at Osborne's as a 16 year-old in 1969 and also leaving and returning in the intervening years.

"We had beautiful china and beautiful crystal, people would come in and buy a wedding present and it was usually a crystal salad bowl," Mrs Hartung said.

Brand new goods still stocked by Osborne's that you are unlikely to find elsewhere include sleeve links, clip-on earrings and push-down metal ashtrays.

Mr Abikhair's old-fashioned approach to the business is reflected in display counters housing goods.

"We approach people and give them service, nobody comes in the shop without anyone approaching them," Mrs Kilo said.

Osborne's is expected to have its final day of trading sometime in July with the fate of the shop building unclear.

"I think we night have to have a bit of champagne, not in celebration but in recognition," Mrs Hartung said.

"It's just very sad but life goes on."