Town Holds Farewell for Couple’s Iconic Store

Gitonga Riungu

Virtual Assistant (MBA)

December 21, 2025
10:32 am
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An entire Danish town is preparing to celebrate a beloved couple whose lifelong business may soon close after more than five decades of service. The couple, Niels and Grace Dige, are facing the end of an era as their family-owned shop struggles to find a new owner before the New Year.

A Lifetime Behind the Counter

For over fifty years, Niels and Grace Dige have run Dige Lavpris, the everything-store in Øster Assels on southern Mors. The couple took over the business in 1969 from Grace’s parents, continuing a family legacy dating all the way back to the 1800s. Their daughter, Anja Dige, says the store has always been more than just work for her parents; it was their entire life and identity.

Family-owned businesses like theirs form a strong part of the local fabric in rural Denmark. Yet, running a small business in Denmark can be increasingly difficult in small communities. Many family-run shops are struggling to survive due to changing shopping habits, online competition, and the challenges of accessing rural financing.

Struggling to Sell and Step Away

The couple hoped to retire years ago and began searching for a buyer over four years ago. Despite several interested parties, finding someone able to finalize the purchase has proven difficult. Financing options for such rural ventures are often limited, making potential sales complicated.

Anja and her brother Allan have been keeping the shop operational during the transition. But if no buyer is found by December 31, the store will close for good. That date now looms as both a deadline and a quiet heartbreak for the family and their community.

To honor their parents’ dedication and the role the store played for generations, the family will hold a farewell reception on Sunday, December 21. Everyone on Mors is invited to join between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to say goodbye to both the store and its cherished owners. According to Anja, interest in the event has already been overwhelming.

End of an Era

Earlier this year, Niels suffered a sudden blood clot that forced him to stop working and start pension life sooner than expected. Since then, his children have carried the day-to-day operations while juggling their own lives. Anja, who spends part of her time in Copenhagen running a jewelry company, admits that maintaining the family store from afar is not sustainable.

Many locals have visited or reached out to ask about Niels and Grace. For decades, they were the familiar faces behind the counter, greeting generations of customers who came not only to shop but to connect. That sense of community is what the couple hopes can live on, even if the business itself cannot.

Community Roots and Hopes for the Future

Øster Assels’ residents are not ready to let the Diges’ story end quietly. The upcoming reception is meant as both a farewell and a tribute, recognizing their kindness and consistency through the ups and downs of small-town life. For many, the shop symbolized stability and personal connection in a world that often feels less personal.

Interestingly, the Diges’ challenge is not unique. Across Denmark, local stores are disappearing as younger generations choose other careers or move to cities. Yet in these communities, the closing of a store often means much more than losing a place to buy goods. It can also mean losing an essential gathering spot.

Niels and Grace remain hopeful that a buyer might still emerge at the last moment. Ideally, they wish for someone to continue the business in the same spirit and preserve its long history rather than shutting its doors permanently. Their story speaks to both the beauty and fragility of rural entrepreneurship.

Without a doubt, the Dige family’s legacy stands as a reminder of what generational businesses contribute to Danish culture. Whether or not the shop remains open, the years of shared experience, laughter, and community loyalty have already earned their place in local memory.