Crewe Memories: Hunt for first customers in Asda store

By Crewe Chronicle on Jul 15, 09 01:19 PM in 1900-1999

Asda staff are trying to track down the first two customers to go through the checkouts when the Crewe store first opened its doors 30 years ago.

Alison Withers and her friend Jane Busby were both 15 when the Victoria Centre store opened on August 17, 1979.

They had been queuing since 6am for the 9am opening and were presented with gifts of chocolates and sweets on the day.

Amanda Glover, of Asda, said: "We will be celebrating our 30th anniversary on August 17 and Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson will be coming on that day.

"We are also trying to see if we can find Alison and Jane for them to be here as they were here on the very first day."

The store was officially opened by the then mayor of Crewe and Nantwich, Cllr Cyril Peake. He said he was "overwhelmed and astounded" at the sheer size of the building.
More than 100 civic and other guests were given a special preview of the store before its grand opening 30 years ago.

Several thousand residents also turned up after invitations were dropped through letterboxes at random.

The store employed about 320 full- and part-time staff when it opened.

Alison Withers and Jane Busby, or anyone who knows them, can contact Amanda Glover or Angela Leighton at Asda on 01270 258271.

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