After 60 years on Front Street, the Vera P. Card shop will be relocating to St. George's as rents in Hamilton continue to climb.

Owner Jan Card said he is disappointed that Front Street no longer holds the charm it once held but said he is optimistic that the company will see sales improving when they open their new store.

"We retail to tourists, not locals and Hamilton is just too expensive now," he said. "The rents are too high. We have had lots of concern from regular visitors when they noticed we were boxing things up. But I am optimistic about our move. I think St. George's will start to attract more stores.

"I believe we are the first store to open its flagship in St. George's but I hope more come. We chose St. George's because we are high-end retail and I think that one guest staying in a hotel visiting our shop there will spend more than five cruise ship visitors who will be based in Dockyard."

The store stocks figurines, wood carvings, jewellery, watches and clocks produced by the most renowned European manufacturers such as Hummel of Bavaria and Lladro of Spain, such as the $24,000 figurine pictured. The store also stocks items by Swarovski crystal and Anri. It also guarantees the lowest duty-free prices in the world.

Today marks the last day of moving for the family-owned business which used to employ 58 staff in six stores during tourism's heyday, but now has a staff of six. They plan to open the new store in May, across from their existing store on Water Street, which will remain open as well.

"We've been here 60 years," he said. "And I think we have seen four or five cycles in retail sales. I think more attention needs to be paid to tourist retailers. We are selling items at a cost 30 percent less than they are in the US so our profit margin is quite tight. It has been a tough market to be in and I don't think many people have paid attention to the issues we face.

"But I am remaining optimistic and I do think we have made a smart choice in terms of choosing St. George's. I hope others move their flagship stores there as well."