One of Tauranga's longest running women's fashion stores is closing down in February.

The Willow Street store Maison Monique closes permanently on February 29, ending more than 40 years of trading in Tauranga.

Maison Monique owners Barbara Reid at the store in Willow Street.

Owners Ward and Barbara Reid have owned and run the store for the last 11 years and Ward says it is simply time to move on.

'The time has come to say ‘hey we would like to live life after work'.”

A number of factors impacted the couple's decision to close the store with Ward saying the economic downturn, coupled with the fact the pair are 'getting older” contributed to the decision not to renew the lease on the property.

'Our age group is coming towards a time when we would like to retire – all those little things have mounted up.”

The couple, originally from Invercargill, moved to Tauranga 12 years ago when Ward decided to leave his position as North Island ground operations manager with Mt Cook Group, a subsidiary of Air New Zealand.

'I got transferred from Invercargill to Auckland; then Air New Zealand sold the subsidiary off and we decided to move to Tauranga.”

Wanting new opportunities and a chance to own their own business, the couple decided to purchase Maison Monique, which has been one of the highlights of their lives.

'It's a good experience to operate a small business, you learn a lot and you never stop learning.

'You meet so many different people from different walks of life and make so many friends in the shop.”

As one of the most highly regarded ladies fashion stores in Tauranga, Ward says he hopes perhaps someone may want to take on the store, and if not, he is sure it will be missed.

'It's a niche market and we try and make it a friendly place where people can come in and have a chat, ask what's new in the ladies fashion area and have a chat with the girls.”

Although he will miss the business, Ward says he is looking forward to spending more time on the golf course, with he and Barbara planning to do some much needed travel.

'When you own a business, it is very hard to get away.”

Now based on Willow Street the store used to be based at the lower end of Devonport Road, next to Strand Bags and has operated in Tauranga for 40 years.