'The end of an era': Con’s Fruit and Veg to close after 40 years in Cork city

“The end of an era.”

This is how the closure of Con’s Fruit and Veg, on Bandon Road, is being described by of the local community.

For almost 40 years, the shop has provided locals not only with their fruit and veg needs, but it has also served up welcome, friendship, and connection, acting as a mini community centre in the area.

Still reeling from the departure of Lennox’s Chip Shop last October, residents must now say goodbye to another long-standing and popular outlet, as Con and Denise Murphy will close the door of their much-loved veg shop for the last time on Saturday (May 24).

A family-run venture since the 1970s, initially Con’s brother, Paul, ran a delivery service to the many small shops in the area at the time and delivered door to door to houses, in the days before family cars were commonplace.

Con would help pack the deliveries after school and, working alongside his parents, learned the ropes before taking over the business himself and opening it up as a shop in the mid-1980s.

The legacy of running a local business dates back to the 1960s for Con’s family. His grandmother operated a very successful dress-making and tailoring service out of his own childhood home, a short stroll down the hill from where the veg shop stands, in McCurtains Villas on College Road.

Con has been very proud to continue in the tradition of his grandmother, and along with his parents and son Conor, the family spans four generations of serving at the heart of the community.

Husband and wife team Con and Denise joke when asked about the ups and downs of working day in and day out together with family and each other.

Con says: “Thankfully, we’ve always been so busy that even when we have had clashes, it’s all been forgotten about ten minutes later, but it does help if you can learn to count to ten.”

“Which he never does,” adds Denise, “and that’s a fact!”

Looking forward to this new chapter in their lives together, the couple reflect on the changes that will be coming their way.

While Con won’t miss the 5.30am starts or spending time each evening planning the following day, he says he has always enjoyed the unpredictability of his work and the fact no two days in the shop were ever the same.

“What I will miss is the unexpected. When you opened up that door every morning, you never knew what the day was going to bring, and I’ll miss that.

“Working in the locality that you grew up in, where you know everyone, has been great and for the new customers who would come through the door down through the years, they came in to us first and we were strangers to each other, but as we got to know each other over time we often ended up as friends.”

Denise says they will both miss the social side of their daily work lives and the customers, the chats, catching up on all the news every day, and the friendships formed.

One such customer, neighbour, and above all, friend, Miriam Dunton, describes what the business has meant to the area.

“Con’s fruit and veg shop has been the cornerstone of our neighbourhood for the past 38 years. It’s the hub of the community, where neighbours and strangers alike meet and chat about everything! From the price of spuds or variety of in-season fruit, to the more serious, and on the rare occasion, tragic things that have happened down through the years.

“Con sold everything from everyday veg, to exotic fruits, coffee, honey, and daily basics like milk and butter. He, his wife Denise, and son Conor have welcomed so many people into their shop. Something they do especially well is putting the students from far and wide who are new in the area in touch with the neighbourhood.

“Whether it’s jump leads, some tools or a cup of tea and a friendly face, Con’s has been an invaluable source of information and help to them. We’ve had chats about serious and funny topics over the years with people from every walk of life. Con’s veg shop is our United Nations.”

All great friendships are a two-way street, and Denise goes on to explain how she and her family value their close relationship with Miriam.

“Miriam has always gone above and beyond what any friend would do. We wouldn’t have gotten through the winters without her bringing us over homemade soup, and at Christmas time, when we’d be so busy, she’d bring us lovely fry-ups and rolls to keep us going.

“She has brought us home if we were sick over the years, and I honestly don’t think we would have survived without her. We could never, ever thank her enough for what she has done for us.”

The friendly service and atmosphere created in the Bandon Road veg shop has been enjoyed not only by the local residents of the area, but also by the hundreds of university students who have crossed its threshold over the years.

Another customer, Neil Flanagan, recalled his fond memories of Con’s Fruit and Veg.

“I was a student from the States, studying abroad at UCC in 2017. I stayed at the Spires on Bandon Road and would visit Con’s often for fruits and veggies. Best prices and best customer service. I always would say Con’s is my favourite store in Ireland.

“If someone is ing your store, nearly 3,000 miles away, about the good experiences they had seven years ago, then that should tell you everything you need to know about this place!”

Reflecting on the changes of the last 40 years, Con laughs: “Starting off, we were selling potatoes, apples and oranges, now it’s pomegranate, avocado, asparagus and tenderstem broccoli, things our parents wouldn’t even have heard of.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank all our customers for making the decision, because it is a decision, to come in and a family business.

“For the custom, the friendship, the chats and the laughs, we sincerely thank you all.”

As the closing date approaches, Miriam leads the voice of the community in a fond farewell.

“It is true the saying that you don’t know the value of something until it’s gone. A huge amount of people will miss our veg shop. For all it gave to our community from fruit and veg to friendship and camaraderie.

“Con, Denise, and Conor, you will all be dearly missed and simply irreplaceable!”