The world’s oldest green grocers is set to finally close its doors – having sold fruit and veg to thousands of customers for over 130 years.
The Grade II listed thatched property – built in 1610 – has been an independent family-run business since the late 19th century.
Jackson’s County Fruit Stores in Stafford, sells everything from traditional potatoes, apples and pears to exotic Thai and Caribbean vegetables.
The business – which also stocks locally made homemade jams, pickles, honey and breads – has passed through six monarchs, 35 Prime Ministers and two World Wars.
Jackson’s County Fruit Stores in Stafford, built in 1610 – has been an independent family-run business since the late 19th century. Left: The store as it was crica 1900-1910. Right: How it is today
But it will finally cease trading on March 31 after current owner Brenda Jackson, 75, decided to retire having succumbed to competition from supermarkets and online shopping.
The grandmother-of-six inherited the store in 1959 alongside husband Derek – whose parents Harry and Florence had bought it in the early 1950s from the Williams family, who had owned it since the mid 1880s.
However, Derek tragically passed away from cancer in 2000 at the age of 62, leaving Brenda to run the store alongside children Mandy, 50, Terry, 52, and Yvonne Game, 56.
But after six decades in charge the pensioner finally took the decision to sell the stunning property – called Primrose Cottage – in December last year.
The historic building is now being sold by Andrew Dixon and Co., and is on the market for £450,000.
Brenda said: ‘The shop has been a massive part of my life, it feels like it has always be there.
‘As soon as we inherited it, I knew that I would working here for a very long time. In truth, it’s the only job I’ve ever had.
Derek tragically passed away from cancer in 2000 at the age of 62, leaving Brenda to run the store alongside children Mandy, 50, Terry, 52, and Yvonne Game, 56 (pictured)
Ms Jackson, 75, finally decided to put the store up for sale due to more and more consumers turning to online retailers for their weekly shop
Jackson’s County Fruit Stores in Stafford, sells everything from traditional potatoes, apples and pears to exotic Thai and Caribbean vegetables
The store will finally cease trading on March 31 after Ms Jackson decided to retire having succumbed to competition from supermarkets and online shopping. Pictured: Country Fruit Stores circa 2000
‘I remember when I first started working at the shop, I was very nervous and it took a long time to get to know things.
‘But over the years I’ve ended up doing all of the different roles – front of house, in the office, cleaning, all sorts of things.
‘I know the shop inside and out. It’s my life, really.
‘It has changed a lot over the years, which is inevitable when you’ve got competition from supermarkets and the internet.
‘There used to be a bit more hustle and bustle, which there isn’t any more because people are going elsewhere.
‘We still get a lot of regular customers who have been coming here for years, so it’s a shame to have to say goodbye to them.
‘Sadly some of them have passed away down the years, but we’ve always had loyal support, which helps make the business what it is.
‘I have had a few people call up to say how sad they are to see it go, but that’s life I suppose, all things come to an end eventually.
‘I think the key to our success and the reason that we’ve gone on so long is because we’ve put an enormous amount of hard work into it
‘I was sick just before Christmas Day, and that was the point at which I decided that it was time to retire.
After six decades in charge the Ms Jackson finally took the decision to sell the stunning property – called Primrose Cottage – in December last year
The historic building is now being sold by Andrew Dixon and Co., and is on the market for £450,000. Brenda said: ‘The shop has been a massive part of my life, it feels like it has always be there’
Yvonne added: ‘I think what has set us apart down the years is the range of stock that we have – there are very few other places that sell fruit and veg from the Caribbean and Thailand’
The business – which also stocks locally made homemade jams, pickles, honey and breads – has passed through six monarchs, 35 Prime Ministers and two World Wars
The shop has won Stafford in Bloom contest twice for the standard of their hanging baskets and attracted visitors to the town for its distinctive look
‘The town centre is not what it once was, and at nearly 76-years-old I need to have a bit of time to myself to spend with the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
‘It’s amazing that it’s been a fruit store for so long, and I will be sad to see it go, but I’m proud of what we’ve done as a family, and we’ve all earned a rest.’
The shop has won Stafford in Bloom contest twice for the standard of their hanging baskets and attracted visitors to the town for its distinctive look.
Yvonne said: ‘It has been our whole life, and it’s been something which has bought the family together and made us very proud.
‘It’s wonderful to get the opportunity to work as a family for so long, I couldn’t imagine having a job with anyone else.
‘We run the business between the three of us, we all have our different roles. Normally I’m behind the till, Mandy works from the office and Terry does the wholesale.
‘My mum is semi-retired now, and only works Monday evenings. If ever any of us have to take holiday, she had to fill in and man the ship.
Workers thatch the roof of Country Fruit Stores in Stafford in the early 20th century. The historic building is now being sold by Andrew Dixon and Co., and is on the market for £450,000
‘She’s amazing, to still be doing it at 76 years of age. We’re all so proud of her.
‘It’s amazing to think how long it’s been run as a fruit and veg shop, and how many people must have walked through the doors.
‘It’s like a piece of local history, which makes it all the sadder to see it go.
‘But my mum has always been the one to call the shots, and as soon as she decided that she didn’t want to do it anymore, we respected that.
‘It’s got to come to an end at some point, even after 130-odd years.
‘I think what has set us apart down the years is the range of stock that we have – there are very few other places that sell fruit and veg from the Caribbean and Thailand.
‘The whole family feel adds to that as well. A lot of our customers have become firm friends – the other day I had someone phone up in floods of tears about us shutting down.
‘The increasing popularity of supermarkets and the way that people are going online to get their weekly shop has driven people away, which is really sad.
‘Historic stores like ours are disappearing, and that’s a massive shame.’
Independent councillor Christine Baron, who represents the Forebridge ward on Stafford Borough Council, said: ‘It is so sad to see a part of history going, it is such a shame because they have been there for so long.
‘The sad fact is that people can go to a one-stop shop and get everything they need so they do not go down there which is really sad but I wish them the best of luck.
‘It is one of those buildings that people go down Mill Street just to have a look at. It is one of the unique buildings in the town.’