Patels ready to retire from Bus Stop Shop

Mr Shailesh Patel, 57, and Mrs Mina Patel, 53, run the Bus Stop Shop in Biggleswade Market Square. They also own and lease out the newsagents in Mead End and the Bridge Shop on the High Street.

They are retiring on Sunday (December 16).

The Patels are originally from Leicester. They moved to St Albans to open a newsagents and in 1981 they came to Biggleswade and bought the shop in Mead End and then the Bridge Shop.

They added the Bus Stop Shop to their portfolio in 1987 and later leased out the other shops.

They have enjoyed meeting the different people who come into their shop and who welcomed them when they first moved to the town.

Shailesh said: “It’s a small town and people know each other like families. We will miss the people.

“We had lots of regulars, lots of passing trade and lots of people from the villages because of the amount of magazines we sell. They always come here and they are always happy.”

They estimate that they have sold 2.5 million Chronicles in their time!

The Patels plan to spend time helping their son and daughter-in-law to run the town’s Post Office, taking holidays and generally enjoy life. Former customers can stop by the Post Office to see them.

They want to thank all of their customers and to wish the new owner the best of luck.

The Bus Stop Shop has been sold to Sandeep Davda, who says he will not be making any major changes.

Sandeep, who has moved to Rose Lane from Luton, said: “It’s part of the heritage of Biggleswade and we will provide good service as usual.”

The leases on the other two shops will continue as usual.