Formal Opening of New Co-op Store at Conisbrough – A Miniature “Super Mart”

October 1958

South Yorkshire Times October 11, 1958

A Miniature “Super Mart”

Formal Opening of New Co-op Store at Conisbrough

The establishment of a miniature “supermart” by the Denaby Co-operative Society at Chestnut Grove, Conisbrough reached fruition on Monday five years after the Society first approached the National Coal Board with regard to the provision of a site for their new self-service store.

The new shop, which has a total catchment area of about six hundred houses, is situated on the Ellershaw Estate, and places the emphasis on hygiene with movable fixtures and refrigeration equipment costing £1000

It is a comprehensive store ranging from meat and frozen foods to clothing. Individual items an on the shelves are separately priced for the benefit of the customer

A Feature                           

A feature of the new premises is the electrical floor heating installed by Sampson & Co, Electron Works, Pitt Street, Sheffield, and diffused fluorescent lighting and spot lights pick out the articles on display.

The walls of the shop are covered with pegboard; the idea being to utilize the walls for display.

Speaking at Monday’s opening ceremony, Mr. W. Thomas, President of of the Society, told waiting shoppers that after six months membership people holding shares of £2 will be entitled to stand for the Management Committee.

He paid warm tribute to the efforts of Mr P.J. Healy, F.C.I.S., Managing Secretary of the Society.

Mr H Burkinshaw, F.G.O.S. has been the surveyor engaged by the Society to prepare the plans for the building and to supervise construction. Messrs Bramall and Ogden of Wath had been in charge of the building operations; the entire shop window façade of Burma teak has been provided by Wrigley’s woodworking coal Ltd of Conisbrough; decorations by R.J. Clarkson and son, Conisbrough; all precast terrazzo pavings have been executed by the Juan Flooring Co Ltd Leeds and refrigerated display and storage equipment and been installed by British Automatic Refrigerators Ltd, Masbrough Street, Rotherham.

Mr T Wren (first assistant at the School Walk branch, Denaby), is manager of the new store. He had been with the society for about 20 years.

The first 250 members of the new branch who spend 15s (excluding cigarettes) will each receive a gift parcel to mark the occasion of another milestone in the annals of the Society.

The new Store is the second branch shop in Conisbrough, the other, in Old Road, been erected a few years ago to serve the estate in that area. It incorporates all the features of up-to-date store practice