Shop owner’s parting gift to the homeless

IT was the end of an era for a city shop – but the owners wanted to make sure nothing had gone to waste.

Pontcanna Stores – which included a Post Office – closed its doors for the final time last weekend.

The shop has been run by the Patel family for 30 years and is now making way for a Co-op store.

But on their final day, the family didn’t want anything to go to waste, so they donated all the unsold foodstuffs to the church’s winter night shelters and homeless charity Llamau.

The tins and packets were collected by representatives of the night shelter and boxed up for delivery to each of the seven winter night shelters in the city.

Helen Philips, of Rhiwbina Baptist Church, who organises the winter night shelters, said: “We are very grateful for the donations as volunteers at the night shelters prepare an evening meal and breakfast for between 12 and 20 homeless people who would otherwise be sleeping rough outside.”

Customers gathered to say goodbye to the family and a collection had been organised in local shops.

Before the closure, Rashmikant Patel, 68, the shop’s co-owner, said he was looking forward to his well-earned retirement after opening the business in 1987 with his wife Yashoda.

“I am going to miss the shop because I have been here for the last 30 years,” Mr Patel said. “I am going to miss my customers as well. I have very friendly customers – they’re like family.

“They have been coming in to say ‘have a good retirement.’ They are very happy for us.

“At the moment I don’t have anything planned, but if I get bored I might do some voluntary work.”

Local residents had campaigned against the closure.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We know how important Post Office services are to people in Cardiff and we apologise to customers for any inconvenience this may cause. Any customers wishing to access post office services may do so from any Post Office branch, including Canton Post Office and Llandaff Post Office.

“We would like to assure customers that we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community.

“Any retailer or small business owner interested in running the Post Office should email NTquestions@postoffice. co.uk or contact our recruitment team on 0845 601 6260.”