Newhouse General Store, Esh Winning, wins award after tragic death
Newhouse Store, in Esh Winning has been awarded the title of Durham’s Small Business of the Year by Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy.
Northern Deli & Stores has also won Durham’s Small Business Special Recognition Award for 2024.
Sadly, this accolade follows from a difficult period for the store, and the wider Esh Winning community. On a morning in October, owner Abdul Aziz, 68, died of a suspected heart attack as he started work.
(Image: Stuart Boulton) Known to the community as Aziz, he had run the store for 42 years along with his older brother, endearing himself to several generations of villagers.
Ms Foy asked residents of, and visitors to, Durham to nominate their favourite small business in what is an annual award to promote small businesses in her constituency.
A huge 40 small businesses from in and around Durham City were nominated, and over four thousand votes were cast by members of the public and small business community.
Speaking about this year’s people’s vote winner, Newhouse Store, Mary said: “I was truly delighted to announce that Newhouse Store was awarded my Small Business of the Year award for 2024, but it was with a heavy heart that I presented the honour in light of the recent passing of much-loved shopkeeper, Mr Abdul Aziz.
Abdul Aziz (Image: Family Handout) “When I visited on Monday, I received such a warm welcome from Abdul’s brother, Mr Hamid, who spoke so fondly of him and the reputation they built together in Esh Winning.
“A store that has just about everything, and if they didn’t have it, they’d get it for you – that’s what I was told by so many people who supported the business during the voting period.
“The team at the blue shop, as it is affectionately known locally, told me that Mr Aziz was an integral part of the community, dedicating the last 42 years of his life to Esh Winning. Abdul clearly transformed his shop into the beating heart of the village.”
(Image: Office of Mary Kelly Foy MP) The death of Mr Aziz was met with an outpouring of grief, in recognition of the “family bond” he had built with the residents of Esh Winning. Dozens of bouquets of flowers were laid outside the shop, along with a book of condolences.
He left behind three sons, two daughters, and his wife Kalsoom Aziz.
Ms Foy added: “It was incredibly inspiring to witness how the local community has come together to honour Mr Aziz’s legacy and I made sure to take a moment to look at his memorial bench which takes pride of place near the store, another mark of respect organised for Abdul by the local community who clearly loved him dearly.
“Mr Hamid and the team asked me to thank everyone for their support and for the love they continue to show the business -I’m so pleased that they felt this award finished off the year nicely for them after the difficult time they have faced recently.”
For the first time since the award’s conception in 2022, Ms Foy added a new category to the small business initiative – with Northern Stores & Deli receiving her Small Business Special Recognition Award for 2024.
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Speaking about the winner of the new award, Mary said: “When people nominate a business, they’ll often take time to email me a follow up with the reasons behind their decision.
“I couldn’t help but be moved by the accounts I read about the owner of Northern Stores & Deli, Matty Booth, and his dedicated team.
“In Durham we are lucky to be surrounded by good folk who go above and beyond for local people and visitors to our city – Matty clearly cares passionately for the city, shoppers and other businesses, particularly those who are just starting out.”