Shop serves last roll and sausage
It was the end of an era as one of Campbeltown’s most iconic shops closed its doors for the final time last weekend.
H McIlchere and Son, 23 to 25 Main Street, famed for its hot food takeaways including breakfast rolls and lunchtime meals like macaroni and chicken curry as well as baked produce from sister company Argyll Bakeries, officially closed last Saturday, October 31.
Sweeney McGeachy, from the firm of Neil McGeachy which owned McIlcheres, said: ‘We’ve owned that shop for 27 years, since 1993. It started back in 1906 and when we took over the shop, we kept the name because it was always known as McIlcheres.’
Many teenagers had their first taste of employment at McIlcheres but Sweeney explained the closure: ‘It’s just the natural progression of our business procedures.’
The shop has been bought by Linda McLean of The Kintyre Larder, who will continue to stock the local and Scottish produce she currently sells from her shop across the road, but on a bigger scale in her new, larger premises.
Linda, who hopes to have a fairly quick turnaround, re-opening as soon as possible, added: ‘We will expand ranges including the Argyll Bakery products as well as new products over time, with bespoke hampers being a big feature.
‘In the meantime, we will continue to stock Argyll Bakery products, from pies to sandwiches, coleslaw to Danish pastries, and are happy to order in anyone’s favourites.’
Sweeney added: ‘We would like to thank all our customers over the years and all the staff who worked there – too numerous to mention.
‘It’s the end of an era but everything changes and I’m quite sure Linda will make it a success. She’s done well where she is so I’m quite sure, with the bigger premises, she’ll offer a larger range of goods for people.’
Kintyre Larder’s Facebook page will have updates on when the shop will re-open.