Numbers 49 - 55

Please note all dates are approximate. 

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 

If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.    

This block consisted of 3 shops Numbers 49, 51 and 55. Number 53 was a house and Number 55 also had a house associated with it. Some business owners would move from one set of premises to another due to the associated house or moved further down the street as they bought rather than renting their premises.

Many locals remember this as the Empire Café run by the Toni family but in this block they first moved into Number 55 then gradually bought up the other premises to incorporate them all into this block. 

  

2022 Facebook Page

1890s carpet sale Market Square
showing when the 3 shops were separate units
Photo courtesy V Phillips

1958/60 Photo courtesy L Hermann

  

2021© V&P Russell

Number 49

1900 David Bonner, Clockmaker

1907 Janet Muir, Fruiterer

1920 Wilhelmina Alexander, Ladies Outfitter

1925 Madge M. McCulloch Fancy Goods / Ladies Outfitter

1931 Colin & Isabella Wood, Children’s Outfitter

1934 Mrs E. Latimer, Milliner

1939 Ballantine & Chalmers, Hairdressers

1945 D&G council ARP

1946 E Toni Empire Café

Mystery: 2001 Mr & Mrs S. Faccenda, 2003 C&A de Matteis, 2004 L. Pellechia - were these all still trading under the name Empire Cafe.?

2007 Caspian Restaurant

2012 Empty

2015 Morgano's Restaurant & Coffee House

2019 Tweedie's Empire, Restaurant & Coffee House

2021 empty

2022 Our Place

Number 51

1891 E Moffat, Flesher

1902 David Beattie, Butcher

1920 Janet Muir, Fruiterer

1935 Andrew Cowan, Merchant

1946 E Toni, Empire Café

2001 See mystery above for 2001 -2007

2007 Caspian Flame Grill, Restaurant

2012 Empty

2015 Morgano's Restaurant & Coffee House

2019 Tweedies Empire Restaurant & Coffee House

2021 Empty

2022 Our Place

Number 55

1891 W Thorburn, Drainer

1900 WJG Johnstone, Hairdresser

1935 Toni Bros, Confectioner

1946 E Toni Empire Cafe Takeaway

1989 MacRea, Shoe Repair

2007 Caspian Takeaway

2015 Morgano's Takeaway

2019 Tweedies Empire Takeaway

2022 Our Place

Old Adverts & Pictures

1902 D Watt Guide

Old advert courtesy V Phillips

1925 RoM

The shop was actually Number 51 - but as the Muirs were also living in the house
at Number 53 it didn't make much difference but caused confusion in our research

1935 RoM

1902 D Watt Guide

1935 RoM

This seems to be the year that Toni's moved in.
The advert is from 1935 but the Council Valuation Rolls 1934-35 show Toni Bros

1949 RoM
This is the first advert for Empire Café

1953 RoM

Date unknown Courtesy M Curnyn

1960 RoM

1981 RoM

1989 RoM

1992 RoM

1997 RoM

2000 RoM

Memories: The street outside was the arrival and departure point of the 'taxi's' that ran a shuttle service between Brydekirk and Annan. They consisted of an ancient Model-T Ford and a Chevvy and the last run was at midnight. "I recall being on the bottom layer of a last run when 21 people got out of it at Halbert's corner!"

  

yell.com

  

2017 Facebook

2021 Apr Annandale Observer as COVID restrictions started to lift