Who should run the Corrie Corner Shop?

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog November 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

After blogging about who would make the ideal Rovers Return landlady, it got me thinking about other businesses in Coronation Street. I cannot think of anyone behind the counter of the Kabin apart from Rita and Norris. The Salon without Audrey would be sacrilege. And Roy's Rolls without Roy? Never! However, I do think Dev has outstayed his welcome at the Corner Shop. 

What a good opportunity to take a look back at previous Corner Shop owners I hear you cry. Ok, let's do it!

The first scene of the first ever episode of Coronation Street was set in the Corner Shop. The then current incumbent, Elsie Lappin, was handing over the reigns to new owner Florrie Lindley. 

Well, we couldn't have two Elsie's in the one street, could we? Florrie managed the shop for the first five years of the show, before the actress was axed by incoming producer TIm Aspinall in the mid-60s. 

Characters such as Lionel Petty and David and Irma Barlow also took charge of the shop during the 1960s before it was sold to Maggie Clegg in 1968. I really liked Maggie's character and thought she fitted in well on the Street.
 
However, these days she is really remembered as Betty Turpin's sister. Betty arrived a year after her sister and often helped out in the shop. 

Following Maggie's marriage and departure to Zaire in 1974, the Hopkins family arrived. Their tenure was short-lived as they proved unpopular with viewers, although they did introduce us to the wonderful Tricia Hopkins, friend to Gail Potter. I would love for Tricia to return as Gail really needs a friend again! The Corner Shop was also involved in scandal when the Hopkins' found proof that Betty Turpin was in fact the mother of Gordon Clegg, who had previously been known as Maggie's son.

My favourite boss of the Corner Shop has to be Alf Roberts. Originally a GPO (or Post Office worker) Alf became involved with the shop through marriage to Renee Bradshaw in 1978. Renee had bought the shop in 1976, immediately causing consternation by applying for a licence to sell alcohol. This brought the wrath of Annie Walker to her door, although the pair were subsequently on good terms (apart from when Annie frequently expressed her dismay at the poor variety of products available in the shop). Alf firmly donned the white grocer's coat after Renee's sad demise in a car accident in 1980 and ruled behind the counter until the mid-1990s. I loved this period - particularly his squabbles with his third wife, Audrey. Alf obviously took great pride in his little empire and was loathe to finally give it up. 

I would rather gloss over Reg Holdsworth's involvement in the Corner Shop, as I'd rather gloss over Reg in general. I still shudder at memories of his water bed, not to mention his truly dreadful wig. I did however enjoy seeing Maureen's mother Maud working in the shop. A latter day Ena Sharples, I loved Elizabeth Bradley's performances. It is often forgotten that she was in fact the first Coronation Street character to use a wheelchair. 

Fred Elliott and his son Ashley also ran the Corner Shop for a time before ownership was passed on to businessman Ravi Desai and his children Nita and Vikram. While both Ravi and Nita were relatively short-term characters, I did like Vikram, particularly his relationship with Steve MacDonald at Streetcars. Unfortunately the arrival of the Desai's ultimately led to Dev Alahan making an appearance. Dev was Vikram's cousin and took over the shop after the family left. Originally Dev ran the shop as part of a chain, however following Mad Maya's reign of terror, most of these disappeared (along with his countless other children) or were sold off. After being burned to the ground by Maya and then destroyed by a careering tram, we haven't seen much of the shop in recent times. I think it's time for a change of ownership.

So who was your favourite Corner Shop boss? Has Dev outstayed his welcome? Who is the true 21st Century heir to Alf Roberts' Corner Shop throne? And while I'm here I'll take a bottle of bleach and half a dozen of them fancies - and NO eclairs!


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