A shopkeeper is calling time on his business of nearly 50 years and revealed the one item which kept bringing people back to his store.
Alfred Dolbear, known as Arkwright after the loveable shoppie in Open All Hours, has decided to close as he wants a “bit of life”.
From 15 he ran a market stall while working at a factory as he saved for his own premises.
However he had to start again when his first marriage ended, when he opened Alfies in 1976.
Customers would return for his excellent service - as well as his bin bags, he told Devon Live.
Alfie, 76, said: “Things have been fantastic over the last 47 years, but the previous year has been challenging, and the last six months have been very hard.
“Many shops in the town are closing or calling it a day. Now I'm 76, and I want a bit of life.
"I started selling stuff to the boys at work in the factories and gradually worked my way up from the markets and then took it from there.
“Those early years were fantastic; you had banks in the town, a fish place, and everything you needed.
“There was no need to go anywhere else in Cullompton, but now, sadly, there isn't too much left.
“Glass hammers, wood screwdrivers, we have it all, I find our leading sellers are household toiletries, stationery, spray paints and garden stuff.
“We used to do a lot of medicines, but that's all dropped over the years.
“The biggest seller we have got is black bag refuse sacks. We sell the best bag you'll ever buy, and British-made too.”
He said his two sons did not want to take the shop on as they were both successful in their careers.
He added: “Over the years, we've seen a lot of money go towards internet retailers, and the big stores have come in and killed the prices.
“Shoppers go to the big stores, get what they need, put it all in the car and drive home. They don't want to come up town to buy a packet of black bags or a toilet roll off me and then go and visit the butchers. They'd sooner go and get it in the car and go home.
“When it went on Facebook I was closing, we had 194 people wanting to know where they're going to get their bags, and those that will miss seeing me outside talking to people. Many people now will be lost and not quite sure where to get their items.
"I'm going to keep open until I've sold most of my stock, and when I finally get around to closing, it'll be lovely, and I'll get to put my feet up.”
