Plantation shop and chippy the right mix for jobs boost
THE Lochaber owners of a computer-age design business have taken a sideways step into food retail, which should bring jobs to the Plantation area of Fort William.
Former police constable Helen Smith and commercial diver Davy Duncan plan to reopen a boarded-up convenience store in Wallace Place, initially as a newsagents and grocers, and early next year the couple plan to add a fish and chip shop.
The pair picked up the keys for the shop last Sunday and have finalised the off- sale liquor licence. They intend to open the new shop in about six weeks. It will be called ‘The Heilan Coo Convenience Shoppy,’ as it is on Cow Hill, and next spring when they add the fish and chip shop, it will be the ‘Heilan Coo Chippy’.
Previously, the shop was a Polish delicatessen, but it will require some renovation work.
The news comes just a week after the revealed Fort William’s former Blockbuster store may become a chip shop.
The Plantation building was for sale and has been bought by Oban Ales boss, John Trew, who has granted Davy and Helen a three-year lease to see if they can turn it into a viable business.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Trew said: ‘People in the Plantation are keen to have a shop and if they use it during the three-year lease it will stay – if not, it could become flats.
‘Davy and Helen are not like me, they are much more patient.’
About a year ago the business duo set up LEAP – Lochaber Embroidery and Printing, in Nevis Bank Industrial Estate.
They use state- of-the-art computer- controlled equipment, including a garment embroidery machine, 44inch inkjet printer capable of producing banners and canvases, and a laser cutter and engraver.
In addition, they manage a Facebook site named Buy, Sell and Swap Lochaber, with nearly 9,000 members, many of whom have sent encouraging comments about their latest venture, including some offering to work with them.
Mr Duncan, 53, said: ‘I have been in Fort William since the age of four when my dad moved from Glasgow to work in the pulp mill.
‘The Planny area really needs a shop as it can be a long way down the hill on a bad day.
‘When I lived up there it always had a great little shop. Latterly it was run as a Polish Deli but it was very Polish even down to the language spoken.’
Helen, 44, who comes from Aviemore, added: ‘I had to go down to Glasgow to take a licensing course to run the off sales part of the shop.
‘ We started LEAP as I had always been interested in embroidery, even while serving in the police. There we have one full-time employee and two part-time.
‘As the shop will be open from 7am to 10pm we will definitely need staff, and also at the chippy when it opens.
‘ There are many different nationalities in the Planny so we will aim to stock a wide variety of food.’
The chip shop will take a bit longer to open as there is the planning process to go through for change of use, installation of an extraction system and some slight alterations to the building.
And as if all that was not enough to keep them occupied, Helen is also a long- distance runner and has taken her mobile catering unit to various ultra marathon events, which she intends to continue following pleas from customers.