Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ex-Tayside and Fife shops owner Stewart Smith dies
STEWART Smith, a business man who owned a chain of Spar shops across Tayside and Fife, has died aged 74.
He was born in Clement Park nursing home in Dundee in 1947 to Dorothy and Charles Smith.
His father owned Chas S Smith grocer at 255 Blackness Road, Dundee, which had been founded by his great grandmother around 1900.
Stewart was educated at Blackness Primary School and then Harris Academy at which time he was one of the founders of Kelso Football Club.
At the age of 15, he left school and began working in his father’s shop.
Within a few years, Stewart branched out on his own and took over a grocer shop at the top of Springhill, off Arbroath Road in Dundee.
In 1967, he met his future wife, Linda, through mutual friends at Tony’s Cafe on the Perth Road.
They married in Ward Road Baptist Church in 1970, and went on to have three of a family – Sandi, Jenni and Phil.
Throughout his business career, Stewart also owned stores in Perth Road, Dundee, and in Fife owned stores in Thornton and Balmullo, which included a post office.
As well as grocery outlets, he also owned two fast-food outlets in Dundee and O’Brien’s Sandwich Bar and The Castle Tavern in St Andrews where Prince William often popped in for a pint.
His final venture was a wholesale confectionery business in Blairgowrie.
Latterly, he worked alongside Bryan Aitken of James Aitken & Son which subsequently became Aitken Wines.
Stewart retired fully from business in 2014.
For many years, he enjoyed his wine tasting sessions along with several other grocers and wine merchants.
He was also a former member of Camperdown Rotary Club.
Stewart was an avid Dundee FC fan and during his retirement was able to devote more time to playing golf at Ballumbie.