David: Nobody’s gonna come to an old man’s shop.
Andrew: You’re 87 and you’re still working every day. You’re the story, Dad.
David: I was born in Stockport in 1932. My Grandad started the business in 1893 and we’ve been in Stockport ever since.
35 years ago we moved to the Underbanks. The size of the premises was a key factor in moving here. We don’t rely on passing trade. It’s suit hire and kilts for weddings. People come from all over because we’re the biggest Highland wear stockists in the North West and we even had a call last week from someone in Vietnam.
As a street, the Underbanks hasn’t changed physically since we’ve been here – maybe the cobbles every now and then – the real change has been the people. The Romans had a fort on top of the hill and they couldn’t get their chariot to the top. So they dug the banks to get the chariots round. So they say anyway, I wasn’t here at the time – very close though.
There are 1000s of people at the market looking for places to explore, this street just needs them to spill over, and they will when businesses down here give them a reason to. And Tramp that three story salon / clothes shop / gig venue down the road is definitely doing something!