Two Yorkshire brothers are following in the footsteps of a 'Leeds icon' by reopening his famous carpet shop after watching his adverts as kids.
Furkan and Urfan Sharif, 41 and 44, grew up in Bradford watching the adverts for 'Mike's Carpets' in Armley. Throughout the eighties, Mike Smith's brightly emblazoned former church and enthusiastic adverts were well-known across the city.
The old building on Branch Road has been used by M&C carpets for a while. But when it was recently listed as to let in July, Furkan saw the chance for him and his brother to start something new while honouring the building's history.
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Furkan, who has previously been working as a lawyer, told YorkshireLive: "We were involved in the furniture trade as kids because dad used to make furniture.
"This property popped out out of the blue one day and I just felt something inside that it would be amazing. We used to watch the adverts all the time as kids - they were on between Emmerdale and on Yorkshire TV, and we knew the building from Dad's work too. I got in touch with the landlord immediately.
"The adverts were really loud and colourful - Mike was a proper salesman and the adverts were constant for years. He was synonymous with the area and became a bit of a local icon. They were definitely part of our childhood."
The brothers were accepted to let the property quickly, and got to meet Mike himself, who still owns the building. Mike gave them his blessing to open with the old name 'Mike's Carpets'.
Mike's early adverts were all filmed at the store in Armley, and those who lived in the area at the time remember the bright advertising signs that emblazoned the building.
"Our dad actually passed away last year," Furkan said.
"His mentality was working hard and going with your gut instinct. This is completely something my dad would have done - I think he would have been really proud. He had a showroom kind of like this in Bradford years ago.
"It's funny how you realise you have characteristics of your parents that you didn't realise you'd inherited at the time."
Furkan and Urfan have spent the last four months diligently doing up the old building. It's a Grade II listed former Methodist church, and Furkan said they've uncovered lots of original features.
He added: "We've been modernising but we really want it to be a bit retro and honour the building's history. We're going for a similar bright and colourful look that will remind people of the place in the eighties.
"We'll have a huge range of carpets, from high end to options for people looking to outfit their homes without breaking the bank - we'll have something for everyone."
To pay tribute to Mike, Furkan is editing together old clips from the adverts that they will show in the entry to the new carpet shop.
Mike's Carpets will be opening on Tuesday, September 6 - for more information, call them on 01132160100.
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