Owners of a much-loved Dumbarton café are handing over the reins after serving locals for 43 years.
Overlooking the High Street, The Gossip Shop has been a constant in the life of many residents since it was opened by Mary Baker in 1979.
For four decades, the business has been lovingly run by the Dumbarton woman and her three daughters – Karen, Marie Joe and Clare.
However, the family have decided to hang up their aprons when the lease ends in March next year.
Karen Greer told the Lennox Herald: “We have decided to retire. It was just a personal decision.
“We are trying to sell the business because I would like The Gossip Shop to continue since it has been running for 43 years. I would like someone to take it over, care for it and run it the way we have.
“It has been part of the community for a long time, and we have lots of lovely customers who I would like to see still being able to come.
“We have been overwhelmed by the lovely comments.
“It has been kind of bittersweet, but we think it is time to retire and take time for ourselves.
“The 43 years have been magic, I have loved every minute of it, and it’s not been like work at all.
“I am looking forward to the freedom of doing what I want to do, from short breaks to spending more time with my wee grandson.
“To work with people that care about the business has been phenomenal.
“We do want someone to take over who will feel the same.
“We have had a few responses, on that front, from people who want to continue it to those who want to change it, but it is encouraging.”
Mary risked everything to take over the cafe, leaving her job of more than 20 years as an auxiliary nurse.
She previously told the Lennox it was the best decision she ever made, saying: “We have absolutely loved it
“We never made a fortune but we feel so lucky to still be here.
“People come to the cafe and they bring their joy and they bring their sadness and we have got to part of it all with so many people.
“It has been wonderful.”
Mary is now 86 and despite retiring more than 20 years ago, still pops in every morning and picks up any shopping needed.
She handed over the reins to Karen in 1996 and Marie Joe and Clare still work as a family to help run the business.
All three women first started working at the cafe in their teenage years, starting with Karen, who worked there every Saturday - even before her mum took over.
In 2019, the cafe marked its 40th anniversary with a special presentation for their first ever customer Janet Hughes, who was presented with a balloon and flowers.
The little cafe has stood the test of time, surviving global recessions and the pandemic.
Karen explained: “We have been through that many recessions over the years.
“We took over the shop when Maggie Thatcher came into power, so you can imagine how the economy was then.
“Then we were shut down for 18 months during Covid, and although it was hard it was something you had to do.
“ It was magic to see the customers again when we reopened.
“Meeting up with all the customers has been the best part of it, from hearing all their happy stories to even the sad ones.
“We have really loved it.
“It is a real sense of community, you feel so apart of it.
“When you see some of the older customers struggling up the stairs to come in, it warms your heart. You do get a right boost that they would make the effort to come to the shop.
“Working with family has been great, especially with childcare and so on.”
She added:“It has been a great big family experience and a real passion project.”
