There is a store in Oxfordshire where history isn’t just written, it’s lived. SPAR Minster Lovell isn’t an average convenience store; it’s an institution, a custodian of memories that has been standing tall for almost nine decades.
Back in 1937, when the store first opened, the owners surely could not have predicted the glorious journey ahead.
From wartime rations to 1970s recession to witnessing the birth of self-service supermarkets to the digital age, this shop has seen it all.
Undeterred by challenges and evolving with each generation, SPAR Minster Lovell has remained a steadfast pillar of the community for all these decades.
Speaking with Asian Trader, the current store owner and seasoned retailer Ian Lewis shared in detail the store’s history and its rich vintage along with current challenges.
“The store was founded in 1937 by my great uncle and aunt,” said Lewis.
“My grandparents then took over the business in 1949. My Dad took control of the business in 1972 with his first wife who sadly died in 1975. My Mum and Dad then took over in 1978.”
In 1991, the family decided to join SPAR.
Retailer Ian Lewis
Lewis initially went to chart his own path but soon returned to retail, thus taking hold of the store’s helm.
Lewis said, “I was an IT systems analyst. When I became a father, I took the decision to go into the family business and become a retailer.
“This meant I could bring my son to work and still see him grow up.”
Today, apart from the usual grocery and household essentials, the store also offers several services like Lottery, PayPoint, Parcel Click and Collect, hence playing the role of the cornerstone for Witney’s29,000 strong community.
The store is also known for its rich alcohol aisle, with its wide array of wine and beer, and its spirits collection.
Relying on wholesaler AF Blakemore for its supplies, the store “rarely uses anyone else”, says Lewis, adding he is satisfied being a SPAR retailer.
“We use local suppliers for eggs and some third-party suppliers for some grocery lines.”
The store also has a thriving bakery section and hot food offering. Customers particularly rave about the freshly made sandwiches. To make sure the store’s food-to-go section does not become stale, Lewis keeps introducing new lines, primarily relying on supplier Country Choice.
He said, “The food to go section has been in place for more than 20 years now. We keep expanding and evolving, introduced lunch items. We make fresh baguettes and salads in store.”
And SPAR Minster Lovell is a store where customer service isn’t a strategy – it’s second nature.
Last Christmas, their charity event raised a substantial amount for Macmillan Cancer Support, complete with a Spin-to-Win wheel and a ukulele band.
“I believe our connect and passion are portrayed across the business. We are always happy to help, stock anything a customer may need.
“We’ve sponsored local football and cricket teams over the years. We are always donating to local events for raffle prizes among other things,” he said.
Over the years, Lewis has used his technical background in retailing, blending the two seamlessly.
“I have tried to make sure I use every piece of tech where I can to save time and make the store more efficient,” he informed, citing electronic labels, temperature monitoring and labelling for fresh baguettes as some of the top examples.
But not all stories are heartwarming. Last September, a gang tried to break in, aiming for the cash machine but leaving empty-handed after failing to breach it.
The store had to remain closed the next day, thus losing trade in the process.
Then came the 2024 Boxing Day ram-raid – a devastating attack where criminals in a Land Rover smashed through the front doors, lashed up the ATM, then dragged it out through the store, leaving a path of destruction costing tens of thousands of pounds.
Lewis told Asian Trader at the time, “The cash machine was pulled and dragged right through the chiller and ambient area, causing extensive damage to the store, chiller doors and stock.”
The impact of such incidents goes beyond the financial burden, as Lewis expressed the shock and vulnerability of a local store in the present conditions.
He said, “The worst thing here was that my elderly parents live above the store. They were shaken and heartbroken. It was a very traumatic time for us as a family.
“The whole incident took a huge toll on us mentally and physically.”
However, even in this testing time, the store’s relationship with the community became evident the way the people rallied around the family to pick up the pieces and help them recover.
Not only did locals assist Lewis and his family in clearing the shop floor of broken glass and spilled stock, but they also launched a fundraiser to restore the store’s damaged storefront and upgrade its smoke and alarm system.
An Oxfordshire resident, who started Go Fund Me page for the fund raise, described the store as “the heart of Minster Lovell”, a place that the community “can’t afford to lose”.
For now, Lewis and his team are holding the line.
When asked about the plans for this year, Lewis simply said, “Staying alive. We are really sitting tight and see what the future brings.”
Despite the setback, SPAR Minster Lovell is once again buzzing with curious shoppers as it resumed hosting launches, including an exclusive SPAR activation for Lionel Messi’s Mas+ sports drink.
SPAR Minster Lovell’s resilience and evolution over almost 90 years perfectly exemplifies the overall enduring spirit of convenience stores – much like a cat with nine lives, they may take a hit but they always find a way to land on their feet.
