Family-run pet shop shuts after more than 60 years
"I've been here since I left school in 1980, the pet trade business is in the family," Mr Smith said."Originally my father ran the shop and his grandfather first opened a pet shop in Woodchurch Lane in Birkenhead before he moved to Prenton Road West opposite Tranmere's ground."
Mrs Smith said the shop on Liscard Crescent had been "incredibly busy" for the past few weeks as word had got around about the closure.She said the shop's success had been down to her husband's caring nature with customers."He has this way about him that just allows him to connect with people," she said."To run a pet shop you have to have that gentleness and kindness and he definitely has that."
Customer of 50 years Jo Cunningham said she would miss the shop "unbelievably"."There is nothing like Pet Needs anywhere else on the Wirral," she said."This is an amazing, unique shop. The personal service, the deliveries, the advice, you can just pop in whatever your need to ask them and they are here."Another customer Chris Fog said: "They are so knowledgeable in what they do."There is a personal sense of nothing is too much trouble for them and I'd like to think that they've become friends as well."She described the closure as "the end of an era" and wished the couple a "wonderful retirement".
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