It’s the end of an era in Stockwood. After 50 years, John’s off licence and convenience store in the row of shops on Hollway Road closes its doors for good today (Saturday, August 20).
The shop was opened in 1972 and run by three generations of the Backes family for half a century. John Backes died in January after a short illness aged 72 and his dying wish was that son Johnny and daughter Maria sold the business that had been the family livelihood for 50 years.
Over the past week, Maria and Johnny have been selling off the remaining stock. That’s when they haven’t been talking to the locals who have been shopping there for decades and popping in to wish them well.
