A FAMILY business celebrated four decades of serving the community by unveiling a revamp of its flagship store.
Three generations of the Holborn family have worked in the Holborn's convenience stores, in Redhill and latterly South Nutfield, since 1974, taking the business from a single store to two shops across three units.
The original store, in Hooley Lane, Redhill, has been expanded to encompass the neighbouring premises and current owner, Dean Holborn was joined there by his parents Daniel, 79, and Doreen, 81, to unveil the shop's new look, on July 19.
Dean, 48, said: "I am delighted that we've been able to celebrate the history of the shop in such a special way.
"When we asked what people thought of the idea, they told us that we were leaving a legacy for future generations, so we felt a huge weight of responsibility.
"The shop is so important to the community it deserves the very best presentation we can possibly afford."
Daniel and Doreen bought the Redhill store from the Pickthall family. It has served the Hooley Lane community by selling tobacco, food and newspapers in some form since about 1900.
Now the next generation is already coming through, with Dean's 19-year-old niece working in the store.
"It is great to see, but we would never force them into working here," Dean added.
"We are very proud of our heritage and of having been trading all these years. We have got a great position in the community.
"People here are very protective and proud of the store.
"We have got second-generation customers and it was great for my parents to come down and see some of the people who they knew when they ran the shop."
On July 19, the family unveiled the newly-refurbished Redhill store and had face-painting, balloon modelling and tasting samples for customers.
Dean, who puts the business's longevity down to following market trends and listening to customers, said the family is now looking to refurbish the South Nutfield store.
