AFTER nearly 29 years running the Cross Roads corner shop in Witham, Raj Patel and his wife Rita have hang up their pricing gun and left the much-loved store.
"We took over on December 5 1985," recalls Mr Patel, who will be greatly missed by his loyal customers after retiring last Friday.
"It's been a happy time and at the same time when you're living with people for 28 years you get attached, then when you leave it's heart-breaking.
"I've seen people grow up in the shop. Some of the paper boys are really upset we're leaving.
"So many of my customers, they come in and I treat them like they are in my house. I change light bulbs, sort out locks and recommend tradesman for some of the pensioners.
"I always help them no matter what time it is, I treat them like they are my parents.
"Every day is different; I'm always there for the community if they need any help, that way they can see somebody is there for them," Mr Patel told the Chronicle.
Mr Patel moved to England in 1974 at the age of 21 and started work in a bottle packing warehouse, then in a mattress factory in London.
Prior to his arrival in London, Mr Patel set up his own catering business in India, providing food for hostels in the Mumbai area of the country.
"I wanted to work for myself and get a better job and earn more money, so I took over the corner shop.
"I worked doing labour at the age of 13, 14 and people that work that hard always work harder and harder because they know what real hardship is," said Mr Patel.
This intense work ethic has taken its toll on Mr Patel and he says ill-health is forcing him to quit the shop.
Mr Patel, 59, said: "I feel sore a lot, but sometimes when you have your own business you have to just get on with it.
"But I had to make a decision whether to retire or not because I have got a problem with my back.
"But somebody else will be taking over, and I'll show them what to do and how to help people, so hopefully not much will change."
After his final day working in the shop Mr and Mrs Patel will be going to stay with their daughter, who is a solicitor, in Newbury Park, London.
"She works away a lot and doesn't live there all the time so she said we can stay there for as long as we want," added Mr Patel.