A new look at the Ginesi shop. This old photograph shows the shop in Market Square and how it would have looked to a customer. From left to right are: 15-year-old Dominic Ginesi, his father Frank Ginesi, Charlie Nicoletti, who owned a family business in Dromore, a girl who worked in JB Skellys, Dominic's brother Joe Ginesi and Mrs Rooney who worked in the business.

AN old photograph of Ginesi's Fish and Chip Shop has provided yet another insight into the renowned family business, which is still thought of fondly by the people of Lisburn.

The picture, which shows the business from the angle a customer would have seen it, is one which has never before been seen by the public, and Dominic Ginesi, the last remaining Ginesi son in the area, brought the Ulster Star the photo in order to take readers down memory lane.

Ginesi's, as it was widely known as, was officially called The Classic Supper Saloon and was based at 25 Market Square.

The business opened as an ice cream parlour in the 1930s when Dominic's father, Frank Ginesi, arrived in Lisburn, before he turned his attention to his famous fish and chips.

Frank Ginesi, who was born in Italy, moved to Lisburn from England in the 1930s, and the family business remained open until the mid 1960s when it closed due to Frank's ill health.

Speaking about the family business, Dominic said: "Ginesi's was popular with everyone. I still meet people in Lisburn who say 'there'll never be anyone make fish and chips as good as your father.'

"People will never forget how good it was," he continued. "It as a nutritious meal for people from Lisburn because times were hard then."

Dominic added: "I remember the fryers ran from coal fires, we had a three pan range and there was a coal fire under each one. You can see the old till and the vinegar bucket in this photo, as well as were we did the washing up and the shelves for the dishes; this is how it looked to the customer. "As the last remaining son in the area I would like to thank all those past customers of ours for their support of my family in those days. My brother Victor's son carried on the Ginesi Fish and Chip Shop in Ballynahinch, so the tradition still lives on in the younger generation."

stacey.heaney@jpress.co.uk

Ulster Star
05/12/2008