A new family-run independent greengrocers is coming to Hale village next month.
Harrops of Hale, run by husband-and-wife team Pete and April Harrop, alongside April's father Alan Ball, is set to open in early June in the former Pixie children's boutique, which closed in January after 15 years in the heart of the village.
Pete Harrop, who grew up in nearby Ashley, says the business was born out of personal frustration.
"We built the business off wanting to solve a problem - we just can't find decent produce," he said.
"It just feels like it doesn't exist anymore. There's nowhere we can go where we can get a superior product to what the supermarkets are offering."
The shop will stock fresh fruit and vegetables, seasonal selections, store cupboard essentials including pasta, grains and sauces, and locally sourced products wherever possible.
Pete is already in talks with local farms and small producers - including those making preserves and jams - though he appreciates the limits of British sourcing. "Obviously we haven't got the best climate for everything, so if you need an avocado, unfortunately it's going to need to come from South America."
The opening comes just days after the announcement that electrical shop Costellos - an ever-present in the village for decades - is closing its doors, which Pete said was "a damn shame".
Pete brings an eclectic background to the venture: he served in the Armed Forces, later ran a Nisa franchise store, and most recently worked in logistics in the corporate sector.
"I'm a big believer in bringing tradition back," he said. "We don't see many greengrocers anymore, but it feels like people would be susceptible to it. It's something I feel like we need."
April, who also runs Managed Medical - a medical administration company based on Broomfield Lane - will be hands-on in the business alongside Pete and Alan, with wider family expected to pitch in too.
The Ashley Road shop will be open seven days a week, with likely hours of 7.30am to 6pm.
"You've got to cater to all audiences - there are people that work and want to come and grab their stuff in the evening, there are those that want to get there quite early," Pete added.
Harrops of Hale is targeting an opening within the first half of June.
