TC’s Fruit & Veg: Seaford shop closes to move online
A southern suburbs family business has made the call to close its doors, after more than three decades in the same corner store.
South
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After more than three decades in their family-owned Seaford shop, TC’s Fruit & Veg has closed its doors.
The popular Seaford Central store – which was voted one of SA’s best greengrocers – shut up for the last time on Saturday and will transition to an online store with home delivery to customers.
Manager Tarsh Blacker, 28, has spent her whole life working at the shop her parents – Craig and Chris – opened 31 years ago.
“The shop has always been a huge part of our life, I’m the eldest of three kids and life has always revolved around the shop,” she said.
At just 20 years old, Mr Blacker opened the greengrocer with his wife, then 19, and a silent partner.
Since then, the couple and their family have worked seven days a week to keep the shop stocked with fresh produce.
But when the coronavirus pandemic hit the family decided it was time for a change.
“COVID made us realise that there’s more to life than just work, and up until then it had been just work, work, work,” Mrs Blacker said.
“People would be coming in saying how nice it was to be spending more time with their families and we weren’t getting that at all.”
The family decided to expand their wholesale delivery route to local restaurants to include homes across the entire Fleurieu Peninsula and southern region.
They’re looking forward to spending more time as a family, maybe even sneaking in some sailing or caravanning trips.
“It’s time,” Mr Blacker said.
“It’s the end of one chapter and the start of the other.”