60 years of sweet success: Family-run shop celebrates anniversary
A family-run shop is celebrating 60 years in the community.
The Wine Shop, on Evans Street in Whitmore Reans, has been a firm fixture in the area since 1959.
The shop, which was originally located in Greathampton Street, was opened by Vernon Hedgecox who lived in Wolverhampton all his life.
It was owned by Banks's at the time and not long after opening Vernon was ordered to move premises to make way for new houses being built, which is when they moved to Evans Street.
Originally a grocery store, Vernon ran the shop and made a name for himself in the community and was well loved by residents and it later on became known for its vast pick and mix selection.
Twins,Vicky and Emma Passmore, who are now 44, began helping out at the shop at the age of 14 filling sweet jars and tidying the shop.
Vicky said: "We built up a very close friendship with Vernon over the years, he was a close family friend and our dad asked us to help out at the shop just doing a couple of hours a week."
When Vernon died four years ago the sisters kept the shop going and now they are proudly celebrating the shop's diamond anniversary with the shop's regular customers.
Vicky added: "Everybody still talks about Vernon, he was a big part of the community, we still have one customer ,who is now housebound that we deliver to weekly, who remembers Vernon when he first opened the shop in Greathampton Street.
"It's a real community feel, the customers have loved it and we have a great relationship with them; without the customers we wouldn't have the shop.
"I think if Vernon was still here he would be really pleased to see us carry on running the shop."
The shop is still famed for its unusual selection of wines, spirits and sweets, with over 150 varieties of the sugary stuff to choose from, and is a favourite with schoolchildren who have also been celebrating the milestone with goodie bags and cupcakes.
