Needham Market: Two businesses take over former Kerridges

Uncle and nephew duo, Mark Loram and Grant Adams have taken over the site of the former Kerridges in Needham Market.

Mr Loram has taken over the garage and is running Hemmingstone Garage from there, while Mr Adams will open his business, Quinton Ceramics, a tile and bathroom showroom and trade centre, in the space previously used as the showroom.

Kerridges closed after more than 100 years of trading in October last year, with a hand car wash taking over part of the lot in April.

Mark Loram and Grant Adams have opened Hemmingstone Garage and Quinton Ceramics. Credit: Grant Adams (Image: Grant Adams)

Mr Adams said: "My uncle and I got chatting and he decided he wanted to move his car garage business there, and I run a contract tiling company in and around Ipswich, and it seemed like a perfect place.

"It's brought a real nice buzz back into the site, it's great."

The duo have had the lease for around two months, and have spent that time decorating, putting signage and displays up and making sure it was all ready to go.

The Hemmingstone Garage opened recently, with Quinton Ceramics set to open in the next month.

Hemminstone Garage has taken over the garage of Kerridges. Credit: Grant Adams (Image: Grant Adams)

Mr Adams started his business from home, with this being the first premises he will have opened.

He said: "It's great to finally have a nice office to go to, it's nice to come to a place of work rather than working in a spare room at home.

"We have decorated all the front of Kerridges and it looks really smart now.

"The feedback we have received has been great, people are just happy to see the site lively again rather than it being a redundant site.

Quinton Ceramics has taken over the showroom. Credit: Grant Adams (Image: Grant Adams)

"The community in Needham love the place they live and so they want to see it as busy as it can be with things going on.

"They are really pleased we are opening and it's nice to get some good feedback."