On the colourful Main Street of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull stands a shop with a remarkable story. Brown’s Tobermory, one of the oldest family-run retail businesses in the Scottish Hebrides, has served island residents and visitors for almost two hundred years.
From its beginnings as a general merchant store to its modern role serving a wide range of everyday needs, Brown’s has woven itself into the fabric of life in Tobermory. Its longevity and continued success reflect both its adaptability and the loyalty of the community it serves.
A Merchant’s Beginning in 1830
The building that houses Brown’s was constructed in 1830 during a period when Tobermory was growing as a trading town. At that time several general merchants operated in the area, and the town’s waterfront and streets buzzed with commerce and activity.
Mr Pender originally owned the premises, and Archibald Brown arrived in Tobermory after a long career as a lighthouse keeper, including service as Principal Keeper at Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. Leveraging his trading contacts, he briefly worked with Pender before purchasing the business in 1860, beginning the family enterprise that still carries the Brown name today.
In 1875, Archibald built the family home, which remains in the Brown family. His transition from lighthouse service to retail reflects both his connections in the Scottish trading community and his commitment to establishing roots in Tobermory.
A Traditional General Merchant
In its early years, Brown’s operated as a typical general merchant. The store sold essential groceries, clothing, and footwear alongside the wines, spirits, and ironmongery it still offers today.
Goods arrived unpackaged. Staff measured out sugar from large sacks, flour and meal from bolls or sacks, and salt was wheeled in from the pier opposite the store. Whisky and beer came in barrels and were bottled on site, while customers brought their own containers for syrup or treacle.
The store’s oldest surviving accounts date back to 1863 and show that most customers came from the local area or nearby regions such as Ardnamurchan, the Small Isles, and Tiree. Records listed items ranging from candles and lamp oil to cabbage plants, reflecting the varied needs of the community.
Passing the Business Between Generations
Archibald Brown died in 1898, and his son Robert John Brown took over the business. Robert had served in the First World War and sustained serious injuries during the Gallipoli campaign. After the war, he shifted the shop’s focus: he ended the sale of groceries and began stocking textiles, including Harris tweed and Fair Isle knitwear. Under Robert’s management, the business grew and earned a strong reputation along the West Coast.
When Robert passed away in 1936, his son Alan and Alan’s wife Margaret assumed control. Alan led the shop through further adaptations. The sale of Harris tweed ended in 1970, and the store expanded into new categories to meet changing customer needs.
Expansion to Tiree and Beyond
Many customers travelled from Tiree, so the Browns opened a branch in Balemartine on Tiree in 1955. This expansion highlighted the shop’s appeal beyond Tobermory and its role in serving wider island communities.
Harry Rutter managed the Tiree shop for its first two decades, followed by Ian and Fiona MacLeod. In 1984, the business opened a second Tiree branch in Crossapol, showing continued confidence in its regional reach.
Alan’s nephew Alasdair Brown, who had been living in Essex, joined the business in 1970 and eventually took over when Alan retired in 1984. During this time, Brown’s became an even stronger fixture of island life, with staff who served the community for decades.
Olive Brown and Adaptation to Modern Times
Alasdair’s wife, Olive, played a key role in the shop’s operations. After Alasdair died in 1991, Olive ran the business with energy and commitment. She diversified the store’s range further, adding pet supplies, camping equipment, haberdashery, and mobile phone accessories as technology evolved.
Brown’s also helped launch Tobermory’s Christmas Late Night Shopping event, bringing the community together and attracting visitors to town.
Customers traveled from all over Mull and beyond, and staff often delivered goods using local vehicles such as the bank van or bin lorry, illustrating the shop’s unique rural service.
Olive retired in 2007, and since none of her children were ready to take over, Jim and Margaret Fenoulhet leased the shop, continuing to diversify stock and maintain its central role on Main Street.
The Return of Family Ownership
In 2022, Jim Fenoulhet retired, and the next generation of the Brown family stepped forward. Helen Brown, Olive’s daughter, and her husband Colin MacDonald began managing the store in October. Helen represents the fifth generation of the family connected to Brown’s, alongside long-serving staff and families who helped run the business over the decades.
Colin has deep roots in the area through his mother’s family, whose ancestors date back to the 1750s on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Early connections between the MacDonalds, Browns, and Hendersons appear on old shop receipts from the mid twentieth century.
A Shop That Grew With Its Community
Over the years, Brown’s broadened its product range significantly. While ironmongery and practical goods remain central, the store now carries many items that reflect the needs of both islanders and visitors.
Shoppers today can find hardware and specialist tools, paints, plumbing parts, electrical goods, kitchenware, bakeware, outdoor and camping gear, pet supplies, gardening equipment, and small appliances.
One distinctive category is its selection of wines, spirits, and local malt whiskies. The store offers affordable wines alongside regional Hebridean gins and whiskies, giving visitors a taste of local flavour while providing quality products for residents.
The shop also offers services such as key cutting and watch battery replacement. Its varied stock and services make it valuable for both locals and visitors.
A Favourite for Locals and Visitors Alike
Brown’s has become more than a shop. Locals rely on it for everyday solutions, and visitors enjoy exploring its shelves and discovering the variety of goods on offer.
The store’s long history and continued family involvement set it apart from many retail businesses that have disappeared over two centuries.
National Recognition for a Rural Classic
In 2026, Brown’s received national recognition when judges shortlisted it in the Best Village Shop category of the Countryside Alliance Awards Scotland. Public support earned the nomination, reflecting the community’s high regard for the shop. The recognition highlighted Brown’s contribution to rural commerce and its enduring place in Scottish island life.
While awards provide moments of celebration, Brown’s true achievement lies in its daily commitment to providing essential goods and friendly service.
A Building and a Legacy
Brown’s premises form part of Tobermory’s historic streetscape. The buildings, dating from the early nineteenth century, hold cultural value and complement the town’s distinctive architecture.
Brown’s has endured because it blends tradition with responsiveness to community needs. The shop continues to serve as a reliable place where people find what they need, share stories, and connect with island life.
Brown’s Tobermory Continues Into the Future
From sugar weighed out from sacks to modern camping equipment, Brown’s has continually evolved while staying faithful to its roots. Its history tells a story of family, service, and community resilience.
As the store moves forward, it remains dedicated to serving Tobermory and the wider island community. Brown’s Tobermory is not just a shop, it is a living part of the island’s heritage and a testament to the value of local business grounded in personal care and commitment to place.
