A ‘singing greengrocer’ who is believed to be one of the last in Bristol to call out their wares in the street has sold up and will move on after more than 30 years as a stalwart of the community. Darren Jones will leave the East Street Fruit Market, which he has worked at since around 1992 and took over in 2008, but the business is carrying on under new ownership, with the same staff taken on.
Mr Jones has become one of the most recognisable figures in Bedminster, and featured many times on Bristol Live, keeping alive the once-common practice of shopkeepers singing out their bargains and offers. With his melodic catchphrase 'don't all be shy, pop in and buy', he most recently featured on a BBC programme We Are England, meeting and not recognising Bedminster comedian Jayde Adams, and pretending not to know what Instagram was.
Read next: Meet 'the voice of Bedminster' - Bristol's legendary singing fruit and veg man
In a post on the fruit market’s official Instagram page from Darren, Sam and the team, they said the decision to sell the business was ‘very hard’.
“We have put our heart and soul into East Street Fruit Market, and this has not been an easy decision to come to, but with the many factors and challenges facing small businesses right now, we have decided it is time to take a step back and focus on our young family,” they said.
“The good news is that East Street Fruit Market will continue under new ownership, and our brilliant team will retain their jobs. It is our hope that under the new ownership, the business will continue to serve the local community, providing a place to buy quality, fresh produce. We would like to thank absolutely every single one of our customers, past and present, for supporting our family business, both in the shop and online. We really will miss you all.
“And a huge thank you needs to go out to our brilliant team, who work tirelessly to provide a friendly, welcoming service (even when the weather is as cold as it is today). It has been an absolute pleasure to have been part of the Bedminster & beyond community, and a privilege to have been able to provide you with access to fresh, affordable fruit and vegetables,” they added.
The fruit market will continue with business as usual, delivering Christmas boxes and shopping lists right up until Christmas Eve, and Darren will be at the fruit market until New Year’s Eve.
Darren has long been vocal in his support for the redevelopment and regeneration of East Street, calling out ongoing delays in the Bedminster Green project, which was first proposed ten years ago. Thousands of new flats and student accommodation units are only now beginning to be built, but still only on two of the five sites nearby to East Street. In January this year, Darren spoke to Bristol Live about his concerns on the roadworks on Malago Road, which were the latest blow to affect East Street.
Tributes to Darren and his work at the heart of East Street’s community have begun to be made. Olivia Nava, who runs the Bubble Play Cafe nearby, wished Darren all the best. “You will be sorely missed!” she said. “East Street needs to be supported by Bristol City Council to be made more viable for small businesses and help it increase footfall.”
East Street and Bedminster- read next:
- What next for East Street? The future for 'South Bristol's high street'
- The A to Z of Bedminster - the 26 things (and more!) that make Bemmie the best
- Is there new hope for East Street - Bristol's forgotten high street?
- 'Sadness' of Bristol's singing greengrocer as trade declines
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