MEET THE ADAM OF ADAM’S APPLE
His name’s Doug, or Dougie to most of his regular customers.
On 12th December 1969 the Traynor brothers (Doug and Roger) first opened their doors in a new precinct in Maghull. Business boomed, Doug tells me there was even police control for the huge amount of traffic generated from the stores, leading them to open more shops around Liverpool.
The shop at 132 Allerton road has now been open for 35 years and is Doug’s last remaining shop. He works six days a week, getting up around 4am to get the produce fresh from Preston Market (Doug says he’s like a kid in a sweet shop and always buys too much…) before heading to the shop for the long task of re-stacking the complex structure of fruit and veg displayed outside (harder than you’d think!). Later on he goes to Ray’s bakery a few doors down for a cup of tea, and often brings back treats for the staff.
When asked about his business and how he feels about it all, Doug says that the shop is the only thing he knows how to do now: “It’s my life”.
It is neighboured by a butchers, fishmongers and a bakery on a little leafy strip of road set back adjacent to the main road with its many restaurants, bars and cafes.
Over the years there’s been many special guests. Ken Dodd being a local customer, Nick Clegg (when he was vaguely likeable) shaking Doug’s hand, and also a ‘Come Dine With Me’ episode was shot at the shop. There’s also hundreds of jars upstairs which were once used for the famous pickled onion recipe loved by many customers and sent all across the world. Then there were more serious stories such as experiencing the tension of the Toxteth Riots, losing power due to the miner’s strikes, or being evacuated from one of the business’ little shops in Central Station due to IRA bomb hoax’s every few minutes. The business has seen it all. Things have come and gone. New card payments have been introduced to the shop and after a long, long time we’re even contactless!
Business has changed a lot in the last 50 years; with superstores and chains dominating the high street and online shopping overtaking them all. The high street is dissolving into Poundlands and empty shops, when it was once a point of social interaction for the community. However, Allerton Road (thanks to the many independent shops) is still a place of interest for many people. There’s a sense of active social responsibility here, where people take the time to talk to each other and look out for one another. A place where people help carry older people’s shopping, help lift prams over the step, help the blind get their shopping.
So whether you’re a regular or you’ve never been to Adam’s Apple before – do come along, say hello and enjoy our wonderful produce!
