Corrie A-Z: K is for Kabin

Len Fairclough bought a small business on Rosamund Street in the mid 1970s, thinking it was well established and profitable. Turns out the previous owner was married to money but the business didn't do that well. No matter. Len was determined, started up a newsagents and moved Rita in as manager even though Ray had already promised that job to Deirdre Hunt, a new dolly bird on the Street that he'd been trying to chat up. Rita was Len's girlfriend at the time, Len owned the shop so Len's choice won the job. She also moved into the flat upstairs and soon took on a shop assistant, Mavis Riley. Len decided to name the place The Kabin, though Rita thought it was a bit affected. Nonetheless, The Kabin it was and still is.

After Len and Rita married, Mavis moved into the flat and lived there until she and Derek bought one of the new houses on Coronation Street in 1990.

In the early days, there was a tiny cafe in the back room, just a couple of tables where they were served cups of tea or coffee. That ended when Dawson's bakery and cafe opened next door.

As videos became popular, The Kabin started to rent them out as well. That was after Len died and Rita was involved with Alan Bradley. It was his idea. In 1990, there was a big change. Rita decided to move the business to new premises that were built on Coronation Street as part of the renovations on that side of the road. The Kabin mark 2 was born, and Rita had a nice shiny new flat as well.

After Derek died in 1997, Mavis decided to move to the Lake District and run a Bed and Breakfast. At the time, Rita was going to go with her but she decided she wasn't cut out for that sort of life and stayed in Weatherfield. She went through several replacement shop assistants, including Leanne Battersby but eventually Norris Cole returned to the area and landed a place as her faithful shop mate.

The last major change was the inclusion of a Post Office, at Norris's urging. A couple of years ago, Norris was brought in as a business partner, probably a good thing as Rita isn't a spring chicken anymore. Other residents that have helped out in the Kabin have included Emily Bishop, Ken Barlow and Blanche Hunt. I expect we'll see Rita retire some day but she could be like Betty Williams and run the place until they take her out feet first!

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