Skip to content

Final scoop for ice cream shop after 103 years in business

Bernie AllenBBC News NI
BBC Eileen is holding an ice-cream cone in her hand and looking at the camera. She has brown hair and is wearing a grey top.BBC
Eileen Devine travelled from Dunmurry for one last 99

A family-run ice cream shop will close its doors for the final time on Saturday after 103 years in business.

McGroggan's was famous for its homemade ice cream.

Shop owner Patricia McGroggan said due to a mix of rising costs and lower footfall in the town centre, the business was no longer viable.

"My ancestors came over from Scotland and started making ice cream in their kitchen," she said.

"They then changed their front room here in Ballymena into a shop and it's been here ever since."

A shop front that is red. It has the name in gold letters, H.McGroggan 9.
Founded in 1922 the shop has been run by four generations of the McGroggan family.

The business on William street in Ballymena has been owned and run by four generations of the family.

It was founded in 1922 by Hugh and Annie McGroggan, and its produce has won many awards over the years.

"We are heartbroken, we've actually been really busy this week with well wishes," said McGroggan.

Elle is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red sweatshirt and has long blonde hair tied in a ponytail.
The ice cream shop was Elle's first job

Elle Brown,18, has been working part-time in the shop for the past year.

"It's been great, it was my first job. I'm going to have to look for another part-time job now which might not be easy," she said.

She said people have been feeling nostalgic as they have visited the shop for the last time.

Tanya Agnew bought an ice cream on the shop's last day of selling.

"It's never going to be here again, so I thought it was important to get an ice cream, and stock up with the tubs as well," she said.

Eileen Devine travelled more than 30 miles from Dunmurry for one last cone at the shop which has deep family connections for her.

"My granny used to run the shop. I've no involvement now - my relations run it. I had to get an ice cream on the last day," she said.

Glyn Roberts, a man with short, dark hair, looks at the camera with a serious expression. He is wearing a blue shirt open at the neck. He is standing on a city centre street in front of a large red brick building.
Glyn Roberts said the "huge cost of business rates" was contributing to shop closures

Glyn Roberts, from the business lobby group Retail NI, told BBC News NI the closure was a "blow for our high streets".

"It's another sad loss when we had Wyse Byse and McKillen's closing in the last few months," he said.

Roberts claimed it should be a "wake-up call" to the Northern Ireland Executive.

"They must address the huge cost of business rates, because unless they do, we are going to see more and more businesses like this close," he warned.

"And it's not just the closure of this one store, it's the resulting lack of footfall, loss of footfall, for the other surrounding traders that we have to factor in as well."