A BAND of Bury brothers are celebrating the launch of a new shop with a distinctly old-fashioned feel.

Siblings Jim, Pat and Martin Cassidy proved three’s a charm when it comes to the antiques businesses — marking the official opening of store Cassidy’s of Broad Street on Saturday.

Jim, from Tottington, Pat, from Brandlesholme and Martin, from Radcliffe, showed off their range of collectables, memorabilia, autographed items and vintage and retro goodies to guests including Mayor of Bury Cllr Sharon Briggs.

Jim, of Brammay Drive, said their Aladdin’s cave of quirky products offers visitors the chance to revisit their childhood.

He said: “We like the look we see on customers’ faces when they come in for the first time. The most common thing we hear is “I don’t believe it, I used to have one of those!

“Everyone likes the idea of a good old-fashioned family-run business taking on the larger cloned shops on the high street and we want our customers to come back time and time again as we have new — or rather, old — stock arriving frequently.”

Jim said the Broad Street shopfront in the middle of Bury’s cultural quarter was the “perfect location” for their brotherly business.

He added: “With the Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway and parish church so close, this is an area of town renowned for its cultural links and history with listed builds everywhere you look.

“It has always been important to the town’s history and when I first saw the building I knew it was perfect for the products we wanted to sell.

“We wanted to create a unique environment so we concentrated on how the shop should look — there is so much history in here, from Victoriana right through to the 1980s.

“We avoided the mistake of cramming in as much as possible – what’s the point if customers can’t see and handle the products?

“Once more people know where we are they will want to see what we have to offer.

“It will be nice to see more people coming to this end of town — it certainly deserves a new lease of life.”

The Cassidys were involved in the 1940s weekend in Ramsbottom in May and the store is set to feature concession ranges in an effort to promote other local independent businesses.

They already have a strong reputation in the world of memorabilia with clients including Sky TV, World Snooker, MUTV, and actors Dave Prowse and Danny John-Jules.

For more information: search Cassidy’s of Broad Street on Facebook.