Apsey Brook Buying Club
The Apsey Brook Buying Club was a co-operative store in Apsey Brook that ran from the 1940s till the 1970s. Families took turns operating the store, with a small building, pictured, being moved around when operators changed. Oral history has it that when May Smith ran it however, it was done from a large front room in her house.
| Type | Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | c.1940 |
| Defunct | c.1975 |
| Owner | Co-operative of Apsey Brook Families |
The store stocked such items as canned goods, confectionary, frozen meats, cheese and of course, salt beef. A large roll of twine was strung through hook eyes, to tie up parcels wrapped from a large roll of brown paper. A weigh scale for weighing meats and cheese, and a slicer for cutting bologna and ham.
Purchases were often recorded in a large black book or register, for people to pay later. For cash, a drawer held little bowls for change, screwed into the floor of the drawer.