Alan Hartley, whose mobile store dreams turned into reality when he was only 19, has retired from the fruit and veg shop he established in November 1960. The store, named after his father Albert Edward Hartley, was situated at the Gaunt Shopping Centre, where the original business stocked fresh produce. Over the years, the store’s nostalgic vibe has also caught the attention of TV producers. The exterior was used for the 1980s-set ITV underwear drama Brief Encounter, while in 2022 the Disney TV series of Sheffield-based The Full Monty used the store as a newsagent.
Given the growing popularity of supermarkets in the 60s, shops around Hartley’s business began to close. He then decided that he had to adapt to running business. Diversification and stocking the products that customers were looking for have kept it from floundering and falling. Fast forward to the present day, and it now sells a neat row of greeting cards, wrapping paper, helium balloons, frozen pizzas, sausages, and energy drinks, among other things.
Standing behind the counter, Janet, now 89, reflects on the dwindling stock that has been deliberately run down before the store’s closure. Eggs are still sold individually from a massive pile behind the counter. The Hartley family, who wore matching blue fleeces introduced just over 15 years ago, are remembering happily the memories created over potatoes, butter, toothpaste and toilet cleaner during the years they worked there.
According to Hartley’s eldest son Lee, who took over the running of the shop in the 90s, the secret to the business’s success was to adapt or die. Now, where there was once a vat of loose dirty potatoes, there is a neat row of helium balloons, greeting cards, and birthday candles. However, eggs and the legendary pick-n-mix sweet boxes have stayed the same.
Alan’s hands-off approach allowed him to see more than just the shop counter. He and his wife Pat have enjoyed cruising as far as Australia and China and plan to explore beyond in their retirement. While Alan’s feelings may be mixed, he admits that he is ready for a rest but will miss the customers so much because they are more like friends
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