End of an era... ‘We have customers who came in with their parents who have since come in with their own children’

It was the end of an era in the history of Navan Shopping Centre when Market Fresh, one of the original shops in the centre closed its doors for the last time after almost 44 years in business.

For manager Brendan Durkin and his long standing staff, it was a day with plenty of emotion as they said their farewells to their many loyal customers who have supported them through the years who turned out in force to wish them well.

Market Fresh was among the original stores when Navan Shopping Centre opened its doors in October 1981 and is owned by the Hiney family, from Dundalk. It's still essentially in the same location though it did “nudge” a bit to the right, as Brendan put it, to facilitate the access to the multi-storey car park when it was built in the nineties.

Back then you had Tesco, then Market Fresh, then Connolly's Deli and Pat Smyth's butchers and Brendan recalled that Connolly's moved units and Market Fresh took over their unit and kept half of their own so the shop went from around 1,000sq feet to 1,500sq feet. The remaining half unit went to facilitate the travellator and access to the multi-storey car park.

Originally from Sligo, Brendan began working with Quinnsworth in 1974 when he returned from the UK. He was working in the Dundalk store but moved to manage the Navan Quinnsworth when it opened in 1981 in the supermarket unit, now occupied by Tesco.

After 11 years with Quinnsworth, Brendan left the company to take up the manager's role with Market Fresh in 1985 and has been there ever since.

Brendan recalled:”The owner at the time was Eamon Hiney. The manager moved to open his own unit in Drogheda and Eamonn was looking for someone so we talked and we agreed and as they say the rest is history.”

Sadly the owner Eamonn Hiney died in a car accident in 1996 but his wife Gemma continued the family business. At its peak, Market Fresh had outlets not only in Navan but also in Dundalk, Newbridge, Nutgrove, Tallaght, Newry and Portlaoise. The last remaining unit was in Navan and Brendan explained that the decision to close the business came about for a number of reasons.

Business was still good, that wasn't a factor behind the decision, but when Gleeson's butchers in the neighbouring unit was looking to expand and with Brendan due to retire, the time seemed right.

“The opportunity came up for Gleesons. They asked and we answered. The whole thing just came together at the right time.”

Customers will, however, still be able to buy their fresh fruit and vegetables from an independent store as Gleesons will have a fruit and vegetable section and Brendan said what they are planning is really “magnificent”.

There have been many changes over the years and customer habits have changed somewhat but one thing that has remained constant is the loyalty of their customers.

Brendan said: “We have some fantastic loyal customers over the years. We have customers who came in with their parents and are now coming in with their own children. It's generational really.”

Looking back over the years, Brendan has noticed changes in shopping habits. “I believe the day of the big shop is gone for the majority of people, the day of a full trolley on a Friday. People do move around from shop to shop now. Even through that time, we found a lot of our customers would be loyal with us and have stayed with us, they mightn't stay with us for everything but we would see them most weeks.”

Sunday trading was another big change over the years. “Sunday is a good day, if you were to measure the days, it would be in the top three or four days, A lot of people that come in on a Sunday, might not be in the rest of the week. They'd be from outlying areas and they might come in with their families and go for a coffee and a wander around.”

Payment methods have also changed and Brendan said before the question was do you take cards, now it's do you take cash?

Covid was another strange time for Brendan and his team in Market Fresh. “It was different but it was different in a positive way, I suppose. We weren't doing deliveries as such we hadn't the facilities, but people would ring in and you'd have things ready for them. We would try to make things as easy as possible for people because it was a tough time for a lot of them.

He recalled people queuing up outside and how you could only let a one or two customers in at time. “You'd hear of rows in queues of people skipping and the likes, but we never had any of that.”

Brendan also spoke of the loyalty of their staff over the years, with one staff member Noeleen Hoskins with Market Fresh since the first day they opened. The other staff members Kathleen Breslin, Caroline Clery and Fergie Cullen have all been with them over 25 years.

“The staff have been a fantastic support, the staff we have now, no matter what you ask them to do, they'd do it. They have great heads on them, they can think for themselves, they will find things to do, they are just great all rounders.”

Brendan said it was great being part of such a busy shopping cent which must be one of the most successful provincial shopping centres, adding that there aren't too many centres where you would get Penneys, Dunnes Stores, Marks and Spencers, Boots and Tesco.

He said there is always a great buzz and this is one thing he will really miss and especially the buzz around Christmas even though it was an extremely busy time.

“It would start early in December, with hampers and fruit for the cakes, different things like candles, that we would just have at Christmas. It was always our best month.”

As their final days approached, there was no shortage of wellwishers and speaking on Thursday, Brendan joked that if everyone who promised to come in, came in they would have an extremely busy day on the Saturday.

“People have been coming in and telling us how much they will miss us. They have been fantastic, they have been a great support to us all over the years. A lot of people you would look forward to coming in, you would enjoy the chat, about politics about current affairs, about anything and everything, the weather. There was always a great buzz to it.

“There are so many genuine people out there, you can't say enough about that, you just can't.”

Among those paying tribute to Market Fresh for their contribution to the community in Navan over the years was Town Centre manager Peter Dolan.

“What a great store and amazing staff that have served Navan over the years. Brendan and his team were great retailers offering exceptional service and I wish them all the best on their new journeys. I will miss my bit of veg and Gateaux cakes, but not for long as there is an exciting new development happening in that space over the coming weeks.”

Once they close, Brendan said there will still be work to do to get the unit cleared out for Gleesons so it won't quite be good night and good luck yet.

He said Gleesons had very exciting plans that would bring fresh foods to a whole new level and wished them well with their venture.

Looking ahead to his retirement, Brendan is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren. Brendan is married to Bernie and the couple have lived in Navan for over 40 years. They have two daughters Emma and Kelley and two grandchildren Frankie (3) and Jack (nine months).