Business pioneer Neville Rowe passes away
Former owner of Julie’n and Sky Mall Supermarket, Neville Rowe, passed away on Wednesday after a period of declining health.
Rowe began his entrepreneurial journey as a wayside vendor along Swan Street before partnering with a pharmacy and then a boutique. From there, a young Rowe made the necessary sacrifices, foregoing owning a car, to make his dream a reality – opening the first Julie ‘N, which was a boutique clothing store in Baxter’s Road, The City. The name “Julie ‘N” originated from the first name of his fiancée at the time, Julie Ifill, and the first initial of his own name.
The business soon outgrew the location, so on May 21, 1983, Rowe realised another dream – opening Julie ‘N Lady Care in St Michael’s Row, soon transforming into the first Julie ‘N Supermart.
Despite setbacks, such as a devastating welding accident in May 1990 that wiped out seven businesses, including Julie ‘N, Rowe displayed resilience. Within a year, he opened the new Julie ‘N Supermart in Bridge Street, The City, solidifying its status as the largest supermarket on the island, if not the English-speaking Caribbean.
Later, he spearheaded the opening of branches in Haggatt Hall, St Michael and Rendezvous, Christ Church.
Nation Online understands Rowe, who was in his 70s, had been ailing since last year and passed away while a patient at Bayview Hospital. (CA)
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