The longest-running store on Gosforth High Street, Thorpes of Gosforth was opened in 1947 by Edward Thorpe Sr. The shop remained in the family until 2017 when brothers, Colin and Peter Thorpe, were looking to retire.
Fred Wilson and his son-in-law Mike Ryans decided to take on the mantle. What began as an idle thought one evening quickly evolved into the pair meeting the Thorpe brothers and touring the shop before entering a bidding war with other interested parties. With no previous retail experience, Mr Ryans said it was like ‘being thrown in the deep end” but he soon found himself, and the shop thriving.
After a testing few years amid a global pandemic, Thorpes of Gosforth celebrated 75 years in business in May 2022.
On February 1st 2024, the shop was taken over by existing staff members Kenneth Scott and Gary Davison. Kenneth joined Thorpes in April 2023 and has lived in Gosforth with his family for over 35 years. Gary is a known face in-store among customers, having worked there for eight years.
While the shop is no longer owned by the Thorpe family, their ethos of serving the local community still underpins how it is run. The current owners and their staff are committed to delivering the same exceptional customer service by offering friendly advice on products, offering competitive prices, and stocking all those things that you never knew you needed.