Popular Dundee shopkeeper dies

THE wife of a popular Dundee shopkeeper has paid tribute to him after his death at the age of 79.

Dave Stewart, who died of an aneurysm on February 19, was known throughout the city for his chain of clothing and household good shops.

The businessman owned stores in many areas of Dundee, including Fintry, Lochee and the Keiller Centre.

Wife June said Dave was loved by customers for his quality service and friendly nature.

She said: “He was quite chatty with people when they came in, just generally a very happy person.

“Folks were always very pleased to see him, he was so attentive to his customers and that’s why people liked him. He had a great sense of humour too, people loved to see him.”

She said it brought her comfort to know that so many homes across the city contained objects purchased from her late husband’s stores.

“I think that people will remember him from what they bought at the shops, they’ll see it and think of him when they do.

“People already do that. They’ll see something that they bought from us and think ‘oh, I remember shopping there, that was great’.

“He was a very hard-working man as well and cared a lot about the shops.

“He used to drive away down to

Manchester himself to get some of the clothes that we sold, and you would hear him up all night in the garage sometimes just getting things ready for the next day.”

June and Dave met in a coffee shop when she was just 17, marrying soon after before emigrating to New Zealand together in 1962.

The young couple built their own house together there, where they raised their first son, David.

Despite enjoying their time abroad, the family returned to Dundee in 1966, where Dave opened up his chain of shops.

The businesses included a haberdashery, a crockery shop and even video rental stores.

He is survived by his two sons, David and Jason, and five grandchildren.

June Stewart has paid tribute to her husband Dave, a well-known Dundee businessman and shop owner.