Chatwins has received another warm welcome as it opened its second store in Merseyside, taking over from a "mantle of a local institution".
The ECHO previously reported how Prescot "won't be the same" after popular bakers Ray's closed its doors earlier this year. The specialist craft bakers was located on High Street and has been a much-loved business in the town since 1924.
It also had a successful shop on Allerton Road, but earlier this year, it announced it would be closing, prompting long-serving customers to say it was the "end of an era". However, Chatwins said they would be taking over both premises.
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Having already opened their Allerton store, the Chatwins bakery said there had been "huge queues" of customers as staff took on the "mantle of a local institution". But today, the wait was finally over as the Prescot store officially opened.
Staff were busy serving queues of customers on Tuesday morning, through to the afternoon, as many were eager to try out the promising new bakery. One person told the ECHO: "It (Chatwins) has a lot to live up to (after Ray's) but I just had to come and try it."
Another added: "I've heard good things about Chatwins so I thought I'd come up as a treat for lunch. I can't wait to tuck in."
Announcing the opening, a spokesperson for Chatwins said: "We have our full range of freshly baked savouries, hand crafted bread, award winning cakes, hot and cold sandwiches and Festive products. For now we are take out only but we are excited to be opening the coffee shop in the New Year."
Many were quick to comment on social media of their excitement. Others were quick to pay praise to products such as doughnuts, vegetable pasties and sausage rolls.
Despite the "inevitable" change in appearance and products, all front of house staff were retained offering the "same warm welcome and friendly service". The company added: "Inevitably there will be change, not least of all a new look and new product, but customers will be delighted to know that in retaining Ray's exceptional front of house staff we can assure them the same warm welcome and friendly service from the same familiar faces they have come to know and love.
"Regular customers will be reassured that a great many Chatwins products will be instantly familiar to them in name and quality, while we expect they may also find one or two new favourites as well. Everyone at Chatwins looks forward to an exciting new opportunity, and we cannot wait to welcome these two legendary shops and their customers into our family."
Speaking previously, Area manager Craig Eastman said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response to our opening of the shop on Allerton Road, both in terms of the success of the shop with our new customers and also the warm welcome they've given Chatwins.
"We were very much aware of the responsibility in taking on the mantle of a local institution, and the Allerton Road community have been absolutely fantastic in the way they have received us.
"With customers queueing up for a taste of Chatwins we are currently recruiting for even more staff to help deliver the quality and service so far established by the team who joined us from Ray's, and whom the regular customers have been delighted to see back behind the counter."
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