A woman from Ramsbottom has taken over a popular deli shop - only a year and a half after opening a café.
Sas Hardman opened Sasilicious on Bury Road in Tottington in April 2023 and has now opened Sasilicious Deli on Bridge Street in Ramsbottom.
The new deli opened on Friday, November 1 after the landlord asked her to take over the premises, which used to be Entwistle’s.
It was a familiar spot for Sas, who used to work at Entwistle’s for two years before opening her Tottington shop and knew the landlord, Dave Entwistle, really well.
When the previous tenant left the business, Dave phoned her up and asked her if she wanted to take on the premises.
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Sas said: “I’d be mithering him saying if the shop ever becomes free let me know.
“I missed all the customers, and I had a really good rapport with them as I’m from Ramsbottom, so I know most of the people who went in there.
“It just made sense and Dave wanted to keep it as a deli because he made it a deli around 23 years ago and that’s where he started making Lancashire Sauce which is very popular around these parts.
“He wanted to keep it as a deli, and I was the perfect person because he knows me really well, so he just handed the keys over.”
The shop has been refurbished and now has a seating area.
The menu has a wide variety of options that also caters to vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten-free.
The business serves lots of vegetarian breakfast options, gluten-free cakes, Lancashire Sauce sausage rolls, and the sticky toffee puddings Dave used to make when he had the shop.
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Sas said: “I’m really happy to be in Ramsbottom, I’ve kept my Tottington shop open because that’s where I started and that’s my baby.
“I’ll be at the Ramsbottom shop for a month and then I’ll split my time between the two.
“Since opening, it’s been fantastic, I’ve not stopped.
“It’s going really well, and my friends have opened Street Eats up the road and we’re supportive of each other.
“We’ve upped the game on the food side of things on Bridge Street.”
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The only difference between both shops is the addition of a deli counter in the Ramsbottom one.
Other items that will be on sale are Cissy Greens pies, cheeses and sliced meats.
Sas said that opening the Ramsbottom shop has been good as she does a lot of outside catering, and this shop is bigger as they were struggling for space at Tottington.
She added: “Because I used to work here, I feel like part of my heart’s here already, and I’ve loved doing it up because, when I worked there, I really wanted to do it up.
“I’m happy to be back in Ramsbottom but my Tottington shop will be staying the same.
“I’ve got a really good team of girls, and my two drivers are brilliant.
"We’re a great team and I just feel honoured to have them working with me, I couldn’t do it without them.
“I also really appreciate all my customers, and we wouldn’t be the shops we are without them always coming in with their happy faces.
“All the businesses in Ramsbottom have been so welcoming, the shop is full of flowers.
“It’s lovely and makes me feel really special.”
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