The Story of the Crumbly Cheese Shop

The story of the Crumbly Cheese shop on Cleveleys high street was one of our biggest stories in 2014. The small independent retailer in the middle of the high street was faced with closure until we shared the story of its plight.

It’s fair to say that it went viral as it was shared left, right and centre. Stuart, the then owner was bombarded with media coverage after we’d first run the story here on Visit Cleveleys. The sad tale was picked up by local media and regional TV and new owners were found. The shop continued to trade for several more years. Sadly, it did eventually close, and is now a totally different retail unit.

How the story of the Crumbly Cheese shop began

Rewind to 10 November 2014…

There’s been an independent cheese shop on the high street at Cleveleys for as long as anyone can remember.

On 9 November 2014 we had Stuart, the owner of the shop, on the phone. The poor man is heartbroken.

He’s finishing at the Crumbly Cheese shop because of ill health, but really doesn’t want it to close the end of the month. It’s been on the market for a while but as yet a new owner hasn’t come forward. He’s been overwhelmed by the customers who don’t want to see the shop go. Old ladies have been in tears at the thought of losing this vital part of the local community.

At the time of writing this article, the original post on Facebook had reached 621 shares, with 131 comments from people who don’t want the shop to go.

Free to a good home

So much so, he is prepared to GIVE the shop to someone who is prepared to take it on and keep it open. He’ll leave the fridges and equipment, although there’s not much stock left. He has offered to stay with the new owners to the end of the month to hand over to them, show them the ropes etc.

You will need to pay the estate agents/solicitors fees, provide three references for the landlord and probably pay three months rent in advance. Set up costs should be recouped over the Christmas period. The landlord is amenable to negotiating a new lease.

Anyone who was interested was asked to ring Stuart. And you did!

This might all seem strange to anyone living in a large town or a city and reading this article. However, despite the presence of many national chains in Cleveleys, there’s still a strong independent retail presence. There’s also a strong sense of community, which exists both in the high street and with the public. It’s why he made this gesture. You’ve only got to read the Facebook comments to understand.

The Cheese Shop Story Unfolds…

13 November 2014

CRUMBLY CHEESE – FREE TO A GOOD HOME

The original post on Facebook about the imminent closure of the Crumbly Cheese shop certainly brought out the best in our community. There was a huge outpouring of support for Stuart, the soon to be departing owner. The idea sounds like it could be the push a lot of people needed for a life change.

Obviously it’s a big step to take a shop on. But it might be something you’re seriously interested in and have been thinking about doing for a while. If you don’t have a well paid, secure job to leave on a whim – because being self employed is hard work! This might be your fairy godfather to give you a step up on the ladder!

Editor’s note: I ended up coming to live at Cleveleys because I met my fairy godfather (yes really!). This one might be yours x

We love a happy ending…

Published 17.11.14

Stuart had been wanting to talk to me for a week. But the shop has been awash with well wishers and his phone hasn’t stopped ringing! I popped into the shop for the latest update, and was delighted with the news. Through our help with sharing the story, the Crumbly Cheese shop would be staying open and had a new owner.

Pam is having a change of career, although she’s worked in food retail before. A local woman she’s looking forward to working in Cleveleys. She wasn’t even phased by me and my friends, two long standing customers and the ones who’d suggested that Stuart originally contact me, causing havoc in the shop!

Pam told us “A friend of mine had seen it on the Visit Cleveleys Facebook page and shared the post with me, I got in touch with Stuart and here I am.”

It’s so good to know that we’ve been able to help to keep an independent shop trading on Cleveleys high street. We wish Pam well for the future in her new venture, and Stuart can now enjoy his retirement with a clear mind. Well done again to the people of Cleveleys!

New Owners and a New Chapter in the Crumbly Cheese Story

Pam Tribick and her husband bought the shop and on 29th November 2015 had been there a year. They transformed the shop (and probably their lives!) and thanks to their hard work a small, independent shop continued to thrive. So much so that the Crumbly Cheese won the ‘Deli of the Year’ award in a campaign run by Paul Maynard MP.

Following a surprise inspection from Wyre Council they were awarded a ‘5 hygiene rating’ and Pam told us that the inspector said, ‘he was very impressed because getting a 5 doesn’t happen very often when people are new to this type of business’. Pam added ‘To say we were delighted with both of these awards is an understatement!’

The new owners developed the shop in many ways. They introduced a deli counter and takeaway sandwiches. Vastly expanded the selection of cheeses and related products and much more. Pam finished by saying ‘We’d like to thank the lovely people who supported our shop and helped make it a success’.

How the story of the Crumbly Cheese shop ended…

Pam and Steve sold the Crumbly Cheese as a going concern after a few years. The new owner continued to trade before eventually closing the doors. After a short period where the shop was standing empty, it was refurbished and refitted and opened in July 2015 as Fix-it – a phone and tech shop.