Wavertree's Picton Road and High Street have seen many businesses close over the years, but a core of decades-old shops continue to operate and serve as the beating heart of the area. Among them are D&M Leigh Quality Dry Cleaners, Wow Designer Florist, and Liver Glass and Glazing, whose owners spoke to the ECHO about their long histories and deep community ties.
Changing times on Picton Road
During the 1970s and 80s, Wavertree underwent significant change as many Victorian terraced houses faced demolition during Liverpool's slum clearances. The city's economic state at the time also led to the closure of a number of independent family-run businesses.
Today, Picton Road and Wavertree High Street share much in common with other high streets across the city that have seen an influx of new businesses in recent years. The ECHO spoke to some of the last remaining businesses that have called the road home for decades.
Family roots and community spirit
D&M Leigh Quality Dry Cleaners traces its roots back to Wavertree Road, where it was a laundrette owned by Mr Wong. Since the early 1980s, the business has been operated by his grandson, Ian Leigh, on Wavertree High Street. Ian, 64, told the ECHO: "When my grandad passed it down, I took the choice then to carry on, when in the 80s and 90s, there was growth, it was a great business, everyone had everything. But now, like everybody else, it's struggling. I've got to do something, I've got to get up in the morning, I can't just give up."
Despite financial difficulties in recent years, he still sees the important role the business plays for the local community. He said: "We still have some of the old customers from when it was on Wavertree Road. We got told to stay open in COVID, so we were getting older people phoning us up, saying, 'Can you do this for us? Can you do that for us?'"
More than just a livelihood
Amanda Tisdale, owner of Wow Designer Florist, was born in the area. After working at various florists around the city, she opened her own shop alongside her sister, Lorna Tisdale, at 137 Picton Road in 2004. She said running the shop has always been about more than just making money: "It's not really about making money. It's more about about the community, and about the people in the community. I've known them since I was born here, so to me it's a passion. This is my life. It's not just my livelihood, it's my life."
She added: "I know lots of businesses are in it to make money, and obviously I have to still feed my own family, don't get me wrong, but I keep my margins as low as I possibly can to help my community." Catering for a wide range of events means the job comes with significant responsibility, especially for funerals. She said: "It's an honour. Elderly people that tell their daughters and their grandchildren that if anything happens to them to come to me for the flowers. For families to trust me, it's amazing. It really is."
Longevity through client base
Local postman John, who first came to the area with his dad in the 1970s, recalled the changes he has seen. He said: "My dad was a member of a social club up the road called the Labour Club. There's always memories when we were kids, we used to come up here. My dad used to bring us up here because there was an area for kids in the social club." He added: "I don't think people go out drinking as much anymore, so the money wasn't going over the tills in the bars, so they closed."
John Sudbury has run Liver Glass and Glazing on Picton Road for the last 40 years. His first steps in the industry came when he started an apprenticeship at a glazing shop on Smithdown Road at 16. He said that glass shops were once commonplace around Merseyside, but the industry has become increasingly difficult. He said: "I know most of the people around here and they're all good people. Years ago, people coming from outside the community would say 'Oh, it's awful around here', but it's not. I don't live around this area, but it's never done any harm to me, to be honest with you."
He credited his longevity to his client base: "Having a good client base has given me longevity. People who I've looked after, look after me. I can't fault anyone. I get lots of different nationalities, and it's brilliant, it really is." He added: "A lot of the people who come in now are Syrians, or Turkish, or Indian, Pakistani, and it's brilliant. I'm 66 now, and I've got no intention of packing in. As long as I can stay healthy, stay fit, I don't see any reason to pack in."
