East Park sweet shop reopens < VID
AN HISTORIC east Hull corner shop has been restored to its former glory.
The Old Park Shop, which borders East Park, features a side window to sell ice creams out of, penny sweets and traditional toys and games.
Paul Smith, of Sutton, is one of the directors of the newly reopened store.
The 39-year-old said people across the area would remember visiting the old corner shop, situated at the bottom of Westminster Avenue, when playing in the park as children.
He said: "The shop is certainly part of my childhood. We always used to go for duck food and penny sweets.
"So when I got to hear it was going to be sold I was determined to buy it.
"I saw it as an opportunity to pick up a piece of east Hull history."
Previous to Mr Smith's involvement, the corner shop was owned by the same family for more than 50 years and then managed by new owners for about eight years, before being put up for sale once again.
Paul said the Old Park Shop's new owners were determined to make the store as good as he remembered as a child.
He said: "We're getting the toys we used to sell and traditional 100-gram sweets, and I put the side window back in to sell ice creams out of.
"There will be more old stuff coming in towards the summer too, such as midget gems."
The team behind the shop are now planning to create a wall full of pictures of how the store, which dates back to 1890, and East Park used to look.
13 Comments
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by Lynn, Hull
Sunday, May 30 2010, 11:55PM
“I remember 'Jay' Jim and his wife (Hoyle) when living on Westminster Ave for many years and remember the 'Lido'. Paddle Boat,Tennis Courts, Splash Boat, Castle/Tower ruins and the 'Parky' in his hut. Good times !
Great memories of East Park and still looking good now,”
by anne, hull
Sunday, March 07 2010, 7:29PM
“I hope they do really well, wish I could get free ads for my business tho, not through lack of bloody trying”
by Charles, cott
Sunday, March 07 2010, 2:30AM
“In all the gloom and doom there is in this world this is surely a piece of happiness. Good luck to these people and I hope they sell many bags of duck food to toddlers for many years to come.”
by caz, West Hull
Sunday, March 07 2010, 1:08AM
“Good luck to Paul Smith, opening up the shop at East Park. I am sure that the shop will do well. It brings back memories of my childhood, going to the park at weekend's during the late 50's/60's, with my sisters and brother. We would buy sweets, icecreams, as well as bags of duck food.
Happy days.”
by Paul, Hull
Saturday, March 06 2010, 10:09PM
“The shop as I remember it was owned by Jay (usually known as Jim) Hoyle and the shop on the opposite corner of Westminster Avenue was owned by Mrs Benstead (Mrs B to her friends). Although great rivals both were wonderful people and my kids have often been treated to ice creams and sweets 'on the house.'”