It has been 21 years since Roberts and Martin Self Service Wholesalers (SSW) closed its doors in Swan Hill forever.
The Beveridge Street supermarket was open for 37 years, from 1958 to 1996.
Former employees Maryann Gardner and Deanne Earle have joined forces and are preparing to host a staff reunion.
Ms Gardner said the supermarket had been a great place to work.
“It was just a really friendly environment, they were happy times,” Ms Gardner said.
“We had deliveries in the morning and the afternoon which was great.
“Small supermarkets just don’t do that anymore.
“The bosses Alan Martin, and his sons Peter and John, were also really good to work for.”
Mr Alan Martin will be 94 this year and it is uncertain whether he will be able to attend the reunion.
According to Ms Earle, the best thing about her job was interacting with the regular customers.
“It was a nice place to work and there was hardly any conflict,” Ms Earle said.
Ms Gardner was at the store for nearly 10 years, while Ms Earle was employed for seven years.
“Deanne was in the office and I managed the deli for the most part,” Ms Gardner said.
The store had around 25 staff members who worked long hours during the week and on Saturdays, but always had Sundays off.
After the store closed, all remaining staff members were offered jobs at Bi-Lo.
Since then, the Beveridge Street shop has seen many changes and is now the site of Cheap as Chips.
The reunion will be held at the Racecourse Bowls Club on March 25 at 7pm.
For more information contact Maryann Gardner on 0400 502 918 or Deanne Earle on 0459 376 439.
To read more about this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (March 3).
