FOUR generations of the same family have run Moran’s – and the key cutting and shoe repair business has seen many changes to Warrington over that time.

Now owner Steve White is optimistic about the town centre’s multi-million pound developments which has seen Warrington Market move to a temporary unit while its new Bridge Street home is prepared.

The Latchford resident said: “We were in a terrible position in terms of where we were situated in the old market. We’re in a much better position now. It’s brighter, more welcoming and we’ve got a younger clientele now as well. People are more inclined to come in thanks to the communal area around the food court. They are making it family orientated and open for all ages.”

Moran’s was Steve’s father-in-law Rob’s business before him.

Rob’s dad Andy ran Moran’s in the Old Fish Market before that, establishing it as the market business it is known as today.

The business originally started when Andy’s dad John, a cobbler, came over from Ireland and opened a shop in Latchford more than 80 years ago.

Steve, 34, added: “I get people who started coming here as young children who are in their 80s now. They say they used to go past the old shop in Latchford.

“It’s really interesting as I’m always learning things about my family. We also get customers that used to go to the Old Fish Market as children. We’ve got pictures of the old stall and there are little stools where people used to sit.”

Steve has expanded Moran’s offering recently with walking sticks, umbrellas, engravable gifts and the likes of Game of Thrones and Star Wars keys.

And he is all for new initiatives at the market like ‘Foodie Thirstdays’ to bring in new audiences out of regular hours.

Steve said: “That’s something we definitely need to evolve with because most people are working 9 to 5 so we have to make things more convenient for them. We need to offer everything because if not the competition will.”

That is it for our Warrington Market trader of the week series until 2018. See you next year