The end of an era at Luigi’s Chip Shop – Elgin man to hang up his apron after almost 40 years in town. A well known Elgin chip shop owner is to batter his last piece of fish as he prepares to retire after almost 40 years in the town. Italian-born Luigi Chiappa and his wife, Margaret, are to hang up their aprons at Luigi’s Chip Shop, in South Street, as soon as they find a buyer for the 122-year-old building.

Within just two weeks of the property going on the market for £400,000, including their home above the shop and newsagents, West End Stores, Mr Chiappa said it had already attracted two offers.

The sale will bring to an end 54 years of family ownership of the building. Mrs Chiappa’s father, Guido Guidi previously ran a grocers there before retiring and handing over the business to his daughter in 1971.

Mr Chiappa, 62, who had moved to Moray from his hometown of Barga in Tuscany in the 1960s in search of work, was employed at various chip shops in Elgin and Lossiemouth before he and his wife took over the South Street premises and added a chip shop next door.

Yesterday he said he would be sad to leave the business, but said he was taking early retirement due to heart problems.

He said he hoped that the business would be kept as a chip shop by its new owners.

He added: “It has been perfect here. There are a lot of regular customers and everybody who has seen the ‘for sale’ sign up has said it will be the end of an era when Luigi leaves.

“I’m sad to sell the business because it’s all I’ve known, but I’ve got to put my health first.” – source – By Heather Baillache