Golden days on Bury Market

Two stallholders on the famous Bury Market have notched up a century of trading between them.

The Shoe Place and Chadwick’s Original Black Puddings are each celebrating 50 years of success on the town’s historic and award-winning attraction.

The business now known as The Shoe Place was founded in 1940 and Alan Garmin set it up on Bury Market in November 1972. He has worked there every market day since, running the family business on Market Plaza and selling anything up to 100 pairs of shoes each week for 50 years.

Alan, like all traders, loves working on the market, he affectionately refers to his trader colleagues as his ‘market family’. When asked how he feels about working on cold wintery days Alan says: “I love the bad weather - I sell more boots in the winter!”

As long as his health permits, Alan has no plans to retire and will carry on working for as long as he can.

Meanwhile, Mary Sinacola of Chadwick’s Original Black Puddings remembers when the family stall began on the market with no refrigeration! Not until 1982/83 were they given one plug socket at their Edward Block premises.

The business was established in 1865 and Mary’s father, Edwin Chadwick, bought it in 1972. This is when Mary started working there while she was still at school, and she confesses that she loved it so much that she rarely went to class.

Like Alan, Mary has worked every day on the market for the last 50 years, with the exception of holidays. If she wasn’t seen at the market she was at home making black puddings ready for the next market day. And again, like Alan, Mary has no plans to retire, good health permitting.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “This is why so many people from across the country visit Bury Market – for the quality, the bargains, and to meet traders like Mary and Alan for that authentic market atmosphere.

“Whether it’s 1972 or 2022, you’ll always find that on Bury Market – and we’ve major regeneration plans to keep the market flourishing for many decades to come.”

• Vote for Bury Market and make sure it retains its title as the nation’s favourite! Go to https://nabma.com/vote-for-britains-favourite-market/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Launch

ENDS

Press release issued: 22 November 2022.

Picture: A century on Bury Market – traders Alan Garmin and Mary Sinacola are presented with flowers and certificates by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Shaheena Haroon.

Note to editors:

Bury Market was granted its charter in the 1440s and now attracts millions of visitors every year and thousands of coaches from across the country.

With more than 300 stalls on its three sites – the Market Hall, Outdoor Market, and the Fish and Meat Hall – it has won numerous national awards and accolades, and was voted Britain’s Favourite Market in 2019 and 2022.

More improvements are on the way, with £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund to build a new multi-purpose flexi-hall and improve the surrounding market area, along with a new canopy roof to the open market. This will complement multi-million pound plans for a new transport interchange and a transformed Mill Gate centre.