01/02/2026
💕
The little greengrocers in Bondville belongs to Pete. He opened it in the 90’s not long after Bondville was built, he lives in the flat above and absolutely loves it.
Familiar faces. Friendly chats. It’s a place built on heart, not profit. He’s a small business owner who loves what they’ve built. Early mornings. Honest work. His loyal customers, he loves it all!
It was never about getting rich — just about earning a living doing something he cared deeply about.
But behind the scenes, the sums have become harder.
Rising bills. Rising costs. Business rates. Utilities. Wages.
Month after month of trying to make it work. He rarely makes minim wage. He put a slight uplift on his prices, but people complained and said they could buy cheaper online or at the supermarket, some even left negative comments on social media. He sourced everything locally, it was organic but he just couldn’t make it work. Everything felt different, he was exhausted and he was sad 😔
In the end, he has had to make the decision no one ever wants to make. He has no choice but to close.
The door closed. The lights went off.
A dream quietly packed away.
Please support small, local businesses where you can.
Be patient. Be kind. And be mindful of the feedback you leave online — it carries more weight than you might realise.
This is not an easy time for anyone.
**Behind every small business is a person doing their very best, just like Pete **