Semi Retired Foamer

Flemings Food Stores Finale

Given the overwhelming (I was amazed and truly do appreciate it) response to my earlier Fleming blog post, I thought I would motivate myself to head on down to Jannali to be a part of the closing night.
We arrived just after 7pm and soon were able to meet second in charge Seles, who was very accommodating.
While quiet, there was a steady flow of people dropping by for one last time, including one young guy from my part of the world in Hillsdale.
This guy was even too young to remember my old Flemings in Matraville. Man that makes ya feel old.

Below I have put a selection of shots from the final two hours (including behind the scenes), as well as a last minute video of the whole shop, final customers and the final closing.

I would very much like to thank Seles and Rita for allowing us to be part of what would have been a rather emotional event for them.

Please enjoy.

The people of Jannali must be naturally nice.
The bus driver himself was very friendly. Here he has parked his bus back in better light for a final shot.

Less than two hours remaining.

We then invade the shop for some last minute photos.
Despite my earlier thoughts that the floor designs may have been original Flemings, I am told that they are all from a Woolworths makeover of the shop some time back. This makeover saw significant changes to the original store layout.

The inside of the store is typically Woolworths, with not any remaining sign of the Flemings brand, other than the front wall. The building itself, especially the back dock (see below) retained a very Flemings feel.

Part of the earlier mentioned makeover saw this north-east corner changed from a full butchery into this aisle with fridges.

Arguably the highlight of any visit, and the shops biggest attraction, the conveyor belt that brought new stock up from the storeroom, to the shop floor level.
I remember another shop having one, though which that was now escapes me. I was told by my ol boss Julie and Rita that Brighton had one.
There can't be many setups like this in existence now. It is quite possibly that Jannali could be one of the last.

We would be interested in hearing of any others.

Keen viewers will note that rarest of commodities down the stairs, the toilet roll :-)

The upper back dock area certainly brought back many memories. Years of being Woolies didn't strip the Flemings feel from there.

I have spent many an hour in tearooms just like this.

Above photo actually taken by Jason Anthony.

From left to right.
Peter Bartlett - ex Flemings
Rita De Carolis - Flemings Jannali
Brad Peadon - ex Flemings (80s/90s)
Julie Barlett - ex Flemings Manager
Seles - 2IC Flemings Jannali

Thank you everyone from Flemings Jannali.
Wish you all the very best in your new shop.

Jason Anthony becomes the second last customer, splurging out on a Snickers Bar in the final minutes.

This lovely lady, Sharon, has been a customer of the Jannali store for 40 years. She got to be the very last Flemings customer ever (see video below).
Rita, as the longest serving member of the team, is seen serving.

Rita closes the door for the last time, thus ending the final link to 90 years of Fleming family retail history.

Back three decades ago, I would never have guessed that my ol boss Julie would become such a great friend and that we would witness the end of an era all these years later. So glad you could make it.

Video of the store, last 10 minutes and final customers.
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Hope this tribute to a 'fabulous' retail chain has been of some interest.
On the way home we stopped at a number of Caltex servos before they all start changing. But that another story for another time.
Thank you to Jason Anthony and David Phillips.
Thank you to also the Facebook forums who allowed me to share my historic retail ramblings. :-)
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