New Image For One Of Merthyr Tydfil Oldest Shops

One of Merthyr Tydfil’s oldest independent shops is sporting a fresh image – and seeing trade flourish – after moving to new premises. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Crosswoods, which was established in 1929, has become the hottest delicatessen in town after its owner – former ‘Saturday girl’ Lisa Jones – took over an empty shop three doors down, giving the business a new lease of life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lisa was just 16 and still at school when she joined Crosswoods in 1989. It had already been a great success story, having grown from a small fine foods supplier set up by Joe Cross, David Woods and Oswald May to a company comprising five shops – in Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Porthcawl, Cardiff and Tredegar – employing around 100 members of staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Most of the stores eventually closed due to competition from large supermarkets and, by the late 1970s, only the shop at Newmarket Walk, Merthyr Tydfil remained. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lisa bought the business, then based in Victoria Street, from Mr May’s son Philip in 2003. Since then, Crosswoods has gone from strength to strength, currently employing 13 members of staff and supporting more than 15 local businesses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Its selection of quality homemade pasties, pies, cakes, pastries, freshly-baked bread, cooked meats, cheeses, butter and salads attracts a wide range of customers including local residents, students from the nearby college and town centre workers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lisa recently received funding from the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Programme (VVP), managed in Merthyr Tydfil by the County Borough Council, following her move to a larger premises three doors away with the aim of introducing new services such as a hot food counter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A £5,000 award was made towards replacement of the old shop front, while £1,610 helped with the installation of a new CCTV system. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m very grateful for the VVP funding, and also to the Council and Merthyr Tydfil Enterprise Centre for their sound business advice,” said Lisa. “The move has helped secure the jobs of my seven members of staff and also to offer a wider range of products.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Leader Cllr Brendan Toomey said: “Crosswoods is a great Merthyr Tydfil institution and in Lisa’s hands, it’s got even better. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The shop plays an important role in the town’s growing reputation for food – from its increasingly impressive restaurants and cafés to independent shops stocking local produce and farmers’ markets and food festivals. The VVP funding has helped safeguard both Crosswords’ future and that of its staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​