Abdul Rauf, 69, and his younger brother Nawid Rashid, 57, known to everyone as Rauf and Nav, shut up shop at Fisherrow Newsagents on North High Street for the last time on Sunday, marking the end of an era for the community.
They laid on a party for their valued customers as a thank you for all the support they have received for more than three decades.
Hundreds of well-wishers turned out for the event, which was organised by Nav’s partner Leigh-Anne Swan, on Sunday afternoon.
Food supplied by local businesses the Gurkha Bar & Restaurant and Mario’s Pizza & Kebab House, as well as Di Rollo ice cream, cake and refreshments, were enjoyed.
The hard-working pair, who only took one day off a year, Christmas Day, have also been inundated with cards and gifts from well-wishers, one of whom commented on how they were always happy and smiling.
Dad-of-four Rauf decided that the time had come to retire, as he has been working for about 53 years and, after a well-earned break, plans to spend more time making herbal medicines, an interest he shares with his wife Shazia.
Nav, who has three sons, is planning to take some time out to spend with his family.
Rauf explained that his dad Mohmmad Rashid started the business back in 1976, with a newsagent’s shop in the Jock’s Lodge area of Edinburgh.
The business expanded as the family added another couple of shops to their business, including another in the city and one in Dalkeith.
Rauf explained that the business was sold in 1980 when his dad went to Saudi Arabia.
Rauf then had a newsagent’s shop in South Queensferry for nine-and-a-half years, with his brother joining him in the business.
It was after that, on August 23, 1989, they moved to the Fisherrow Newsagents, which was also a Post Office at the time. Rauf and Nav also stocked a variety of foodstuffs.
Both brothers live on North High Street and Rauf plans to continue to stay in the flat above the shop which he has rented out.
The premises will continue as a newsagents and, in addition, there are plans to sell alcohol.
Rauf praised the community for its support, saying: “We would like to thank all our customers.
“When I took over, they came back and brought other customers back, which was a survival for me as the recession started about six months after I took over.”
He joked that the early starts for him in time to open the shop at 5.30am would be a habit that would be hard to break, saying: “I’m sure I’ll still be up at 5am every day for a while!”
Nav added: “I am going to miss all the banter with the customers.”
Local resident Adrian McDowell paid tribute to Rauf and Nav, saying: “I have been getting my daily newspaper with them for many years. I always leave the shop with a smile . . . the banter is good and the service is always so personal and friendly. I wish the new owner the very best of luck.”