"Village Store" closes ....

[Chas]

Sadly,  Ali & Dave have had to close "The Village Store"
 - not their business decision
    - it was down to a large dose of "Greek family business needs".

The big problem for the immediate future is that they don't have a direct internet connection .... any messages will be picked up/answered on a hit-&-miss,  as and when basis.

On the positive side, Ali was still putting in a few hours for Alianthos Car Hire ...

.... and may be the resident Olympic Rep., next year, if the planned expansion of accommodation offered by Olympic goes ahead.  
{Note: Edwina may also be moving on to Chania, subject to expansion there.  (Plus, it's her home base, anyway.)}

[George]

Well that was bad news and good news Chas!

Where did you get the info about Ali and Dave?
Sad to see the shop go. It won't be the same without seeing Dave there behind the counter, do you know what their short term plan is?
I'm sure everyone here wishes them the very best whatever they do!!

Planned expansion by Olympic, not before time is it? They've got the monopoly for budget holidaymakers so should be cashing in on it.
Anything on their website, I wonder, I'll have a look!!

george g...

[Chris H.]

- it was down to a large dose of "Greek family business needs".  

What exactly does this mean?
Chris H.

[Peter&Dawn]

Are you sure its Ali & Dave's shop that is closing.
When we were in Plakias in August Ali said the shop next door would be closing, I think the owners have the new supermarket in front of the dive school.

As George says we wish them all the very best for the future.

Peter&Dawn

[Mike G]

Well that was bad news and good news Chas!

Where did you get the info about Ali and Dave?
Sad to see the shop go. It won't be the same without seeing Dave there behind the counter, do you know what their short term plan is?
I'm sure everyone here wishes them the very best whatever they do!!

Planned expansion by Olympic, not before time is it? They've got the monopoly for budget holidaymakers so should be cashing in on it.
Anything on their website, I wonder, I'll have a look!!

george g...

I agree with all of this George.

Ali as the Olympic rep would be brilliant.

I also would like to know what "Greek family business needs" means.

Mike

ps. what is the evidence that Olympic is expanding in Plakias? I hope they will but when I booked it was just the accommodations they have had for several years .

[Chas]

The sequence of events ........

Tuesday evening, 14 October - popped in to drop off "special exports" with Dave and collect our immediate needs (wine, retsina, water and milk) - everything happily normal.

Wednesday late morning, 15 October - popped in to get some bits and pieces - both Ali and Dave there, ashen faced .... I won't go into any detail about the whys and wherefores, because I don't want to say anything that could be an embarrassment for A&D.  If you really need to know, PM me.

The next few days were a flurry of activity: sending back new stock and equipment; organising return of unsold stock (where possible); organising with the "next door" shop to take other stock; trying to find storage space for any other stock and personal stuff kept in the stock room .....................

Basically, the last day of proper trading was last Friday, 24 October, thus allowing the four of us to have a generous ouzo or ten on Saturday evening.

Dave opened up on Monday and Tuesday to serve those of us who prefer to give our tobacco trade to them, rather than Iraklion Airport.

I'm not 100% certain that the "shop next door" will be open next year or if the owner will concentrate on the two Promenade shops but some stock and equipment has been moved down the street.

The timing was decidedly abrupt .... but at least it all happened before A&D had paid out a bundle to lawyers and Government to transfer the business into Dave's name.

The other positive aspect is that with the speed of events, it's all been done and dusted before either of them had chance to get depressed about it.

[Chris H.]

The sequence of events ........

Tuesday evening, 14 October - popped in to drop off "special exports" with Dave and collect our immediate needs (wine, retsina, water and milk) - everything happily normal.

Wednesday late morning, 15 October - popped in to get some bits and pieces - both Ali and Dave there, ashen faced .... I won't go into any detail about the whys and wherefores, because I don't want to say anything that could be an embarrassment for A&D.  If you really need to know, PM me.

The next few days were a flurry of activity: sending back new stock and equipment; organising return of unsold stock (where possible); organising with the "next door" shop to take other stock; trying to find storage space for any other stock and personal stuff kept in the stock room .....................

Basically, the last day of proper trading was last Friday, 24 October, thus allowing the four of us to have a generous ouzo or ten on Saturday evening.

Dave opened up on Monday and Tuesday to serve those of us who prefer to give our tobacco trade to them, rather than Iraklion Airport.

I'm not 100% certain that the "shop next door" will be open next year or if the owner will concentrate on the two Promenade shops but some stock and equipment has been moved down the street.

The timing was decidedly abrupt .... but at least it all happened before A&D had paid out a bundle to lawyers and Government to transfer the business into Dave's name.

The other positive aspect is that with the speed of events, it's all been done and dusted before either of them had chance to get depressed about it.

Excuse me?
Wow! this sounds really, really weird, it's too dangerous to talk about what really happened out there  on this innocent forum???
Or else?
Or is my English not good enough to pick up the proper meaning of the words......
Reminds me of the rather bitter posting some time ago from the lady renting out wind surfing equipment from the main beach about being threatend out of Plakias by local business people....
Very, very confusing....
Chris H.

[Graham_and_Karen]

Thanks Chas for letting the forum know the disappointing news. I think, though, that apart from wishing Ali and Dave all the best for the future, it wouldn't be fair on them to discuss the matter further. If Ali and Dave want to update us with their plans when they're online again that's up to them but they may,understandably feel it's a private matter. There's always PMs as you've mentioned, Chas.  

[Ali & Dave]

Hi

Thank you all for you kind comments and firstly I would like to thank everyone of our customers over the last six years.

As Chas said we were getting ready for a winter of paperwork to change the shop into Dave's name so that I could claim unemployment benefit next winter after doing my second season at Alianthos.  We had discussed signing the new 3 year lease with our landlady being in Dave's name. But then a couple of days later we were told that if we wanted to sign a new lease we would have to put in all new windows and doors and metal shutters on the front of the shop as a friend of the family wanted to open a pharmacy and they were willing to do this.  We were given until that evening to decide but it actually only took 5 mins as we do not have that sort of money and we would never get it back.

The ironic thing was that as we were standing outside the shop in stunned disbelief a lorry reversed up the road with a new CocaCola fridge for us.  We have only been trying for six years to get a new one!!!!  So they ended up taking the old one away.

It has been a bit of shock and whilst normally we would now be winding down and get some rest we are working our butts off trying to get everything sorted as the leases ran out yesterday, but they are going to have to wait a few days.  All the remaining stock is going this evening and then we just have to sorted out all our personal junk we've been storing in the shop.  All with two weeks notice  

However, if we get Dave sorted with a job for next season, we may get a life, may actually get to the beach next summer and may even be better off!!  So hopefully it will be the start of much better things.

As Chas also mentioned once we leave the shop we will loose our internet until we can get something sorted out home so our contact will be fairly erratic (never was very good  )  So again thank you from us both for all your support and we'll see you next year.

Ali

[George]

Hi Ali

Hope you get this, if you're still on line.

I don't think any of us would be so bold as to pry into your personal business, we're all just concerned for your futures, but you sound quite optimistic so that's good news. Plakias wouldn't be the same without you guys!

Hopefully next year when the dust is settled, all of us on here can perhaps spend some more time socially with you, I think everyone on here regards you both as mates, and are just concerned for your futures.

Sincere best of luck for the future guys, and hopefully see you next year.

Keep in touch!!

george g...

[harribobs]

Sorry to hear this!

but i do wish the pair of you the best of luck for the future

chris and mandy

[Mike from Sussex]

Commiserations from Chris and myself also. We hope your luck takes a turn for the better soon.

[Ali & Dave]

Hi

Just a quick note as we lose phone line today.  Firstly thank you to everyone who has sent PMs, unfortunately due to time restraints I can't answer them just yet.

But Dave and I will definitely be around next year and as George says we will hopefully be able to socialise a bit more.

Will hopefully be back on line in a couple of weeks.

Ali

[Rowena & Carl]

Hi

Thank you all for you kind comments and firstly I would like to thank everyone of our customers over the last six years.

As Chas said we were getting ready for a winter of paperwork to change the shop into Dave's name so that I could claim unemployment benefit next winter after doing my second season at Alianthos. We had discussed signing the new 3 year lease with our landlady being in Dave's name. But then a couple of days later we were told that if we wanted to sign a new lease we would have to put in all new windows and doors and metal shutters on the front of the shop as a friend of the family wanted to open a pharmacy and they were willing to do this. We were given until that evening to decide but it actually only took 5 mins as we do not have that sort of money and we would never get it back.

The ironic thing was that as we were standing outside the shop in stunned disbelief a lorry reversed up the road with a new CocaCola fridge for us. We have only been trying for six years to get a new one!!!! So they ended up taking the old one away.

It has been a bit of shock and whilst normally we would now be winding down and get some rest we are working our butts off trying to get everything sorted as the leases ran out yesterday, but they are going to have to wait a few days. All the remaining stock is going this evening and then we just have to sorted out all our personal junk we've been storing in the shop. All with two weeks notice  

However, if we get Dave sorted with a job for next season, we may get a life, may actually get to the beach next summer and may even be better off!! So hopefully it will be the start of much better things.

As Chas also mentioned once we leave the shop we will loose our internet until we can get something sorted out home so our contact will be fairly erratic (never was very good  ) So again thank you from us both for all your support and we'll see you next year.

Ali

Hi Ali & Dave

I have just read your news & am so sorry for you both. I really hope things work out for you, I'm certain they will as your such a lovely couple.

We are out from the 16th DEc to 31st if you are around it would be great to catch up, if not we wish you all the best for the rest of the year & good things for the New Year! you both deserve it & I'm certain it will be the start of bigger & better things for you both.

Rowena & Carl xx

[dimitri]

nothing changes round plak,this has been going on since god knows when.They will only put up with you whilst your usefull.The Cretan mafia lives on.