DESPITE the difficulties that have faced some town centre businesses, one sandwich shop has been attracting queues out of its doors for years on end.
After Deborah Whitehead and Sarah Stanton took over Appetites sandwich shop on Hall Street, one thing they wanted to make sure was that they maintained a good relationship with their staff and customers.
Fourteen years later, this still seems to be the case as the pair say they have "good banter" with their customers who continue to return for their fresh food and varied menu.
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With a menu consisting of cooked breakfasts, hot and cold sandwiches, toasties, pies, hotpots, and soups, there is a whole range of meals on offer at Appetites.
Despite the decline in footfall in St Helens town centre in recent years, this varied menu is what staff believe has continued to attract customers to the shop, with queues often seen out the door at breakfast and lunch times.
Making sure that all their food is made fresh for the next day, the Appetites team also keeps their menu fresh by adding new items, specials, and sweet treats, while also making fresh batches of their popular homemade pea and ham soups.
Speaking about the business, Deborah said: Things have been really good, to be honest, and it just feels like we are one of those businesses that just keeps on going.
"I think we are in a perfect location next to the bus and train station, so people know where we are and want to try us out.
"Once they try us, we usually get them coming back in because we have a lot of regulars here. Some even come in twice a day!"
Although covid was a particularly difficult when the business was forced into closure, Sarah said that the relationship they had built up with customers meant that they "came back straight away" once restrictions were lifted.
Sarah said: "We were getting up at 4:30am at the time to make sure we could cope with the demand at the time, and we are so glad that all of our customers came straight back.
"We have good banter with our customers and they know they are getting good quality food, so I think that is what has kept us going for so long.
"Our staff are great too and it shows we are doing something right when we are still getting queues out the door."
Deborah and Sarah also said that their customers have appreciated that they have kept their prices down as much as possible during the cost of living crisis.
The pair also offer events catering and free delivery at Appetites for orders over £8.
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