Local Business 3 - Minn's Stores

This is the third of a series of articles which will be published at regular intervals about local businesses. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information, it is for information only and does not imply any endorsement by LERA for the businesses or their products.

Minns Stores is a family-run hardware shop at 89 Burnt Ash lane Bromley that has been serving the community for over forty years.  They are members of the British Hardware Federation

They sell a wide array of items such as ironmongery, garden tools, DIY supplies , security products, paint, china and glass , gifts, cookware, plastic storage boxes builders supplies and many many more things tucked away in little drawers, nooks and crannies and suspended from the ceiling.  The shop is open on Mondays to Saturdays from 8am to 5pm and from 10am to 2pm on Sundays.

A lot of products are packed into their little shop and it is always worth while going in to ask if they have that unusual item you could not find anywhere else. My experience is that they will almost always have it or can order it for you. They can also deliver goods to local addresses and always have service with a smile and you will enjoy your visit.

For 2013 they are expanding their pet department and now stock various cat treats such as Dreamies, Whiskas or Dentabits. They have tripe sticks back in stock and the old favourite "sausages". Dogs are known to drag their owners in for their favourite beef sticks.They also have a selection of pet beds and travel boxes from budget cardboard to luxury plastic.

History
Minns stores is thought to have started around the 1920's. Ruby Silverthorne started working there in the late 1950's. When the then owner (a Mr Beaumont, we believe)  retired, Ruby and her husband Lester bought Minns in 1962. In 1964 Ruby's son Robert joined in the running of the store. Robert's wife Lynne joined in the late 60's and the three of them and various part-timers ran the shop until 1980 when the younger brother Steven joined the team. 

Steve Silverthorne

 A dazzling array of local children served as "Saturday Boys" in the shop and gained their first experiences of working life. They all are likely to treasure memories of working in this unique shop. A new shop front was put in place in 2007 to offer more security for the thousands of treasures stored within and also to open up the interior to provide a lighter, more spacious environment.

In 2010 Robert semi-retired and handed the reins of running the shop to Steven and his wife Marie, although the old man can still be seen many days of the week working for his payment of fat balls (sold at a very reasonable price in the shop!).

The store's website is at http://www.minnsstores.co.uk/ where there are more details and some stunning videos of their products as well as pictures of Snoodles. Snoodles has now become Sweep!