Building renovation works at the former David Bellingham’s Menswear store in Ballymena has revealed a small piece of the town’s retail history.
The building on the corner of Church Street / Bryan Street is currently displaying a store sign that has not been seen in decades - ‘Caldwell’s Fashion Salon’, and now many of the town’s residents have been calling on this little piece of the past to be preserved.
Ian Simpson, a member of our online community, shared the following information: “Caldwells of Manchester, opened in 1934, and closed in 1957. I think the owners were Alfred Caldwell, who lived at "Greengates" out at Ballyloughan and his nephew John Caldwell.
“John was a POW for 5 years in World War 2. On returning to Ballymena he married Anne Perioli, from the Galgorm Road. Anne's father was Albert E. Perioli, the managing director of the Phoenix Weaving Company on Railway Street in the town.”
Local businessman Eugene Diamond commented: “In the mid 70s I worked in this shop at the corner of Church Street and Bryan Street. Now under renovation, the sign from around the time of WW2 or earlier has been revealed it reads ‘Caldwell’s Fashion Salon’. This is great retail history!”
As for the continuing story of the store, we understand that the Mortgage Shop will be opening its doors soon.