Five Years Ago Today

On the day Tesco Rhuthun/Ruthin opened, five years ago today, I likened it to the celebratory atmosphere when in 1862 the railway came to town. The arrival of Tesco marked no less a milestone in Rhuthun's history. The railway offered freedom. We're still not quite sure about Tesco.

A modest yet enthusiastic crowd nevertheless had gathered in the heavy rain outside the new store ahead of the opening. The excitement was palpable. There was anticipatory & sometimes animated chit-chat between people who had never met before. Peering within, you could see the crisp, freshly laundered and pressed Tesco staff already under starter's orders. There were but a few last minute preparations. By this time, most of the staff had completed their tasks and, in position, were casually talking in twos and threes. They no doubt felt just as much anticipation at the unfolding of the new chapter ahead as those on the other side of the glass, outside.

To complete the celebrations and add to the atmosphere, all that was missing at the time was the Ruthin Town Band. Except, of course, it hadn't been re-formed by then.

Suddenly with a clatter and without any ceremony, the shutter went up for the first time. As the crowd coursed forward, they spontaneously gave a cheer. Impatient and excited customers fanned out inside the store, eager to see what this new retail heaven might behold.

They found carefully arranged aisles with pristinely stacked, regimented shelves. Not one box, bottle, tin or packet was out of place or out of line. Not one gap in the freezers. The store was bright, the floor unscuffed and shiny. Tesco would never be this immaculate or ship-shape ever again.

It wasn't long before the excitement of the moment turned to anti-climax. With hardly the opportunity to get further than the fruit, veg and bread, the fire alarm sounded. Happy shoppers had to turn tail and troop back out. It wasn't long, though, before an apology hailed the opportunity to get stuck in again, even if the episode had taken a little of the shine off. So it was the start of business as usual. By mid-morning, the car park was jammed, the store bursting. All this on a Monday.

And then everything in Rhuthun changed.