Those were the days

Update: This shop has unfortunately been destroyed by the earthquake of February 22nd 2011.

Selling staples since 1911

The Press

Last updated 08:35 29/11/2010

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UNCHANGED: Colin Johnson of Johnson's Grocery.

Johnson's Grocery, in central Christchurch, is a cherished survivor.
Some things, thankfully, do not change, writes ROY SINCLAIR of a shop that is a tourist attraction.
Hundreds of items tumbled from the shelves of Johnson's Grocery, Colombo St, during the September 4 Canterbury earthquake.
The store was later closed for a fortnight, but since then, it has remained open. It was a matter of being knee-deep in stock, says grocer Colin Johnson, "but we had few breakages".
"Then a crack appeared across the roof during an aftershock and we were closed for two weeks until the veranda was removed."
Entering Johnson's Grocery is to delightfully step back in time, a century in time. This is how grocery shopping used to be.
Stilton cheese is sliced from the block with a wire for a clean cut. Sweets are weighed out from jars on the counter, and the grocer climbs up and down a ladder to locate something from the thousands of items neatly stacked on the floor-to-ceiling shelves.
But this attractive old- fashioned grocery also offers tempting items difficult to find elsewhere, including chocolate from Belgium, escargots and truffles from France, haggis and whisky marmalade from Scotland, pomegranate molasses from Lebanon, English teas and locally made quince conserve and lime pickle.
When customers enter the shop, carefully sidestepping stock stacked on the floor, they are greeted and served by the grocer. He wears the traditional white apron and holds a pen poised over a sheet of paper to total up the purchases.
Colin Johnson's grocery store is the last of six or more that existed along Colombo St between Peterborough St and Cathedral Square, and his is possibly the last remaining grocery shop of its kind in New Zealand.
The business opened in 1911 as Leigh and Co, according to the name on the old delivery bicycle. Leigh, Henry, Grocers' premises was in Colombo St, but mystery surrounds its exact location. Colin's father, Stan, bought the business at the present 787 Colombo St site in 1949.
Colin has worked in the grocery since 1957, and says he has enjoyed every day.
"I'm just finding out where all the things are," he laughs.
"We kept the shop in its old style and we have become a curiosity, even a tourist attraction. School children are often brought here to see how people used to shop."
He says he is lucky the grocery store has been able to survive. The reason is partly because of the abundance of speciality items sourced from around the world.

On the wall, a framed print is typical of old-style grocery stores. A kindly grocer is offering a lad a biscuit from an Arnott's tin.
It was given to Colin from a customer who found it in Australia.
Yet, with the tram going past the window, it might have been Johnson's in Christchurch.
"Yes, I remember the trams going along Colombo St when I worked for my father after school. We also had a black cat in those days. He had a really shiny coat. People would call into the grocery just to see the cat."
Colin enjoys meeting tourists - their different nationalities with their different accents. They are welcome to just take photos.
But who could resist buying something from a shop that everyday looks as if it has been done out for Christmas?
These days, Colin does not deliver groceries, although on the pavement outside he keeps the old delivery bicycle, reminiscent of one ridden by Granville in the BBC comedy Open All Hours.
Despite the appearance of the century-old grocery, Colin has made one concession to modernity - eftpos.
"Without eftpos and credit cards, a retail business would quickly go broke," he says.
He is wondering how to celebrate a centenary in the new year. He has suggested, facetiously, blocking off his section of Colombo St and offering free groceries. That, he admits, is unlikely to happen. He will announce a more modest commemoration soon.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/4401258/Selling-staples-since-1911