VIDEO: Wayfarers Shopping Arcade Is A Southport Family Business

By: Tom Duffy

Most shopping arcades or centres are owned by financial institutions or large property companies, and can be quite remote from their tenant shops and the customers who visit the Arcade. This is very definitely not the case with the Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, as it is owned by a family business, now in their 3rd generation of involvement with the Arcade.

The Pedlar family first became involved with the Wayfarers Shopping Arcade in 1935, when Vyvian Pedlar and his sister Evelyn, moved their Wayfarers Arts shop from Lord Street into the Arcade, which continued to be a key tenant in the Arcade and managed by Vyvian’s son Arthur Pedlar, until his retirement in 1997.

Anthony Pedlar, Vyvian’s other son, managed Broadbents of Southport and this company acquired the head lease of the arcade in 1976 so not only were the Pedlar family tenants of the arcade but also became responsible for the management of it. Anthony sadly died in 1982, and his wife Mary Pedlar took over as MD.

ots-southport-arcade In 2004, the next generation, Mary and Anthony’s eldest daughter, Nicola Lynch, took over as MD, with Mary remaining involved as Chairman. So far from being a remote property company, the offices are located in the Arcade itself, and several other members of the family are actively involved in the business.