Popular store owners Col and Narelle Wiblen retire from Armidale St General Store after 23 years

There’s been a lot of smiles, stories, sandwiches, but Col and Narelle Wiblen say all the early mornings were worth it

Col and Narelle Wiblen get ready to shut the doors on the Armidale Street General Store after 23 years.

There’s been thousands of sandwiches, lots of smiles and some amazing stories over the counter of the Armidale Street Store.

And there’s even been a few tears as the long-time owners Col and Narelle Wiblen shut the doors on their 23-year ownership of the general store they were told they were meant to be in on Sunday.

“It’s been very emotional,” Narelle said. “We’ve had all our beautiful customers sign a big card for us – and a lot of them are coming in crying and saying you can’t close the doors.”

One of the cards signed by customers of the Armidale St General Store as owners Col and Narelle Wiblen retire.

The couple will retire and begin building their new life, and a new house, shortly and said a lifetime of hard work and happiness serving other people started when Col was just a young boy.

“When Col was growing up, his grandparents had the shop at Chatsworth Island with family,” Narelle said.

“As he was growing up he’d been in the shop, but when he was around 13 they sold the shop.

“Col was devastated, and he said he always wanted to own a shop.”

When he finished school, Col began working at iconic Grafton cafe Langley’s, working there from 1977 until they closed the doors in 1998.

And during that time, Narelle, who worked across the road at Woolworths when it was in the main street, would come across for lunch.

“It ... escalated from there,” Narelle laughed. “We got married in 1983.”

The pair had been selling out of local markets with their own cooking, but the dream of his own shop still called Col, and when the lease of the general store on Armidale Street came up, it was meant to be.

Albeit with a slight hitch.

“We went for the lease, but some other people beat us to it,” Narelle said.

“But a clairvoyant had told me we’d get it, but we’d have to wait three months.

“We used to supply cakes to the shop anyway, and you wouldn’t believe it, three months after we went for it, the people came to us and asked if we’d like to purchase it back off them, and we went ‘oh my goodness’.

“We took the lease, and then when the owners of the building went to sell, they gave us first option and we’ve had freehold for around 20 years.”

Col and Narelle Wiblen get ready to shut the doors on the Armidale Street General Store after 23 years.

The couple said they had not taken many holidays in their 23 years, which included 5am starts each weekday, taking a week here and there when they could.

As for what kept them at the counter for so many years, according to Col it was one simple word.

“Service. We’ve always supplied a good service, and kept prices down … and you look after the people who look after you,” he said.

“You always have a chat, and you know a fair few people. A lot you just know the faces, and it’s always good for a chat.”

Col recalled one such story, when on Valentines Day, he was handing out roses grown in their front garden when a lady came in to buy cigarettes.

“And I gave her the little flower and I said ‘Happy Valentines Day’, and she started crying.

“’It’s the first flowers I’ve ever received,’ the woman said.”

Col and Narelle Wiblen get ready to shut the doors on the Armidale Street General Store after 23 years.

Now, with a chance to sleep in for the first time in more than 20 years, Col said he wouldn’t need an alarm clock.

I’ll still be up early, “ he laughed. “I’m a bit like a battery hen, I’m up 3 or 4 times just waiting for that time.”