Michael Goggin, owner of Michel's Fresh Fruit and Veg in South Belfast, reflects on 25 years of business on the Ormeau Road. He discusses the move from a smaller Sunnyside Street location to a larger unit on Ormeau Road, the changes he's witnessed in the area, and his enduring love for the community.
Michael Goggin is the owner of Michel's Fresh Fruit and Veg which originally operated on Sunnyside Street, but moved into a bigger unit along the main Ormeau Road 25 years ago, marking a gamechanger for the business.
"One funny thing we started noticing after we opened was there were people who weren't customers and would be anything from people going to work or taking their kids to school. They would come in through the door, and look towards our till, and check themselves in the big mirror behind us. It was just so funny - it's one of those things I remember well from our early days."
"On the road we used to have clothes shops, hardware shops, a paint shop, a few bakeries. The road misses that, you need a variety of businesses in the area to give it a certain dynamic. "I joke with people that it took me 20 odd years to get rid of the competition, but it's sad to see that it's more or less a sign of the times we're the last fruit and veg shop open on the road," he said.
"We can discuss with people where the produce comes from too, I can show you a line roughly from where it's being produced to where you're as a customer buying that. You're not going to get that in a supermarket. He said: "I like the fact that on the Ormeau Road, people talk to each other, you get a real cosmopolitan mix of people and the people here are very friendly. I have customers who are from all over the world.
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