By Isle of Wight Observer
More than 80 people turned out to celebrate the opening of the new Vic’s Stores in Nettlestone on Friday.
Local councillor, Dave Adams, cut the ribbon, alongside the shop’s owners for the past 32 years, Charles and Linda Brading, and new owners, brothers-in-law, Pranay and Niket Patel.
The shop, which has been described as a ‘lifeline’ for the community, has moved to the old Roadside Inn site, empty for almost a decade.
Vic’s Stores dates back to the early ‘60s, when Charles’ father, Vic, set up a mobile shop. He set up shop in his front room when the Street Trading Act effectively banned him from operating from his van. Charles said his dad would be “over the moon” at the new store.
Charles left school at 14 to work in the shop, and moved it to a seven-day-a-week model – playing a crucial role during the pandemic. Charles and Linda, now in their 60s, were looking at ways to reduce their workload when Pranay and Niket offered to buy the business; the couple will be working part-time in the new store.
Linda said: “It’s the shop that we’ve always wanted; it’s a dream. We both feel fantastic that the village is going to be left with a bigger, better, fresher store with a car park.”
Pranay explained: “We didn’t want to tread on another independent shop’s toes. Nettlestone is an absolutely brilliant community and we’ve had positive feedback from every single person.”
Vic’s Stores, a member of the Nisa franchise, is open seven days a week from 6am until 9pm, and has doubled its previous floor space.
