Greengrocers to close after 58 years of service

K DOYLE Greengrocers in Ballyfermot, an institution in the community for 58 years, announced they are set to close at the end of August. Established in 1966 by Drimnagh native Kevin Doyle senior, the store has been an ever present at the Golden Mile row of shops on Ballyfermot Road.

However, rising costs and the convenience of bigger supermarkets, has taken its toll on the fresh fruit and veg store, according to the founder’s son Kevin Doyle junior.

Speaking to The Echo, Kevin Doyle junior, said they have been “overwhelmed” by messages of support and sadness from residents this week.

“We have been kind of taken aback by the reaction, from customers and suppliers.

“The reaction has been overwhelming to be honest,” said Kevin.

“People have been telling us their stories, we were the little shop when they were growing up over the generations, it is lovely to hear in a way.”

Kevin Doyle junior is a well-known Elvis impersonator

The two main aspects Doyles are trying to come to terms with are (1) “not letting anyone down” and (2) the “impossible task of thanking everyone.”

“Over the years it became a place people were comfortable growing up with.

“People would come in and have a chat, they mightn’t even buy anything!

“To be welcomed and part of the community for that length of time has been a pleasure.

“Announcing we are closing at the end of August is just to give people a bit of notice and it would be great if another business comes into the community.

“If I can be of help to customers or suppliers looking to take on a couple of lines, I would love to do that.”

Sadly, this is not the first small store to close in recent years, something Kevin acknowledges.

“We would prefer the business to be hanging in there but with rising costs and competing with larger shops, it is tricky at the moment.

“Similar shops are closing.

“I understand the convenience from a customer point of view, people getting their veg at the supermarket, and the smaller independent suppliers suffer.

“This is all we do.

“The attention here is very much on quality.”

Kevin junior is also a well-known Elvis impersonator and will be going on tour with the ‘Way It Was’ band in August and September.

“It might be a distraction, but it could be tricky trying to close a business in the middle of touring,” conceded Kevin.

On a positive note, the salon upstairs from Doyles ‘Hair & Co’ are set to move into the premises.

“They are nice girls, hard working and it will be good for the community to have a local business in there.”

Looking ahead, Kevin isn’t yet sure where he will end up.

“I have been doing this for 37 years, my Dad before me.

“Hopefully I will pick up some work on the far side of this. It only takes five seconds to read my CV, I don’t have much qualifications.

“I could end up doing something similar although a lot of smaller shops are going in one direction but there are some good larger companies out there.

“We are sad to be going, it’s been emotional this week.

“A few people you wouldn’t expect to say stuff, quiet people, have been very supportive, but I have been put firmly in my place that it is not just a shop.

“It is not the apples and oranges, not the finances coming in and out, it is the people.

“They are the nuts and bolts of the business, on both sides of the counter.

“We have been lucky over the years to have great staff.”