Ruthin Wholefoods is safe, as of today. It's been for rent as an on-going business because Linda Turner who took over the shop from her mother wanted to concentrate on the family chiropody business. Indeed, it is understood that she has struggled to keep both businesses aloft since the death of her mother five years ago. Had there been no takers, the shop would've closed at Christmas and already the stock was being run down. The business was just five weeks from closing. The other factor was the pending retirement of Mrs Griffiths the manageress, whose been there for 30 years.
The shop was for sale in 2008 as an on-going business but it didn't shift.
This shop is important to Rhuthun/Ruthin. Why? Because it's one of a declining number of surviving convenience shops to continue in town after Lo-cost and Tesco. Believe it or not, in spite of Ruthin Wholefoods being somewhat specialist in nature, the arrival of Tesco actually damaged trade at the shop. As Tesco did for Leonardo's, too (it's reported that within a month, Leonardo's takings were down £2,000 a month and this explains why Leonardo's has subsequently shrunken twice).
Older readers will recall that it used to be Good Health & Home Brew or just Good Health Home Brew. This was under Dr Dransfield's care, during which time there were all sorts of experiments within on the home brew front. Dransfield was particularly well qualified to advice clients on brewing. The late Beti Turner took it over in 1988 and continued with the two ranges for a while into the early 1990s though it was clear that the two didn't particularly go together that well. Beti was unwell from about the mid-1990s and sometimes struggled to keep going (herself and the shop). She will be remembered by many as part of the Turner dynasty, of course, but also because she drove what became a fairly elderly Porsche.
The new management is fronted by a Min yr Afon woman who also works as the pharmacist in Royles, Dinbych, Wales' oldest pharmacy.
The one problem with the store is that it's not in the best position. OK, it's the right side of the tracks, so to speak, but it's a little distant from the town centre. Still, a new owner comes with the opportunity for a fresh start. We understand the proprietrix is a pharamist.
Children's clothes shops don't seem to enjoy much of a run in Rhuthun. Closing is Butterfly, a shop again somewhat out on a limb these days behind W & G Jones. Readers will recall Plantos (rather expensive) Jake's (Mwrog Street), Blaze (Well Street, no flats) and of course the recently closed Blackcurrant (opened 2009-14, Clwyd Street).
But as one shop closes, so another children's clothes emporium opens, as of yesterday. Welcome Fun-ky Kids on Well Street in the former Garment Spa premises. I think like Glad's Rags the proprietrix once held a stall in the market.
The relatively short-lived auction rooms on Rhos Street lasted but a blink of an eye. In its place is a foundry business.
Finally, Chatwin's re-opens on Thursday December 11th. The silver lining that followed the disastrous fire has been a stylish refit.
