Watford has several car parks that can be accessed from the ring road. One of them is in Sutton Road. Before it was built though, the site was the home of a popular ice cream shop.
The Watford Observer has again teamed up with Watford Museum and is delighted to showcase some pictures from its archive - this week we remember Grillo's corner.
The museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: "This busy shop, which many people will remember, was where Sutton Road met Beechen Grove, and was popularly known as Grillo’s Corner.
"The ice cream business was founded by Matteo Grillo, who came to England from Italy in the 1880s. The family eventually settled in Watford and initially had a stall in the Market Place.
A torn Grillo's advert from the West Herts Post in 1937
"By 1929 they had opened a corner shop at 1 Sutton Road and by 1937 they were also at the tea pavilion in Cassiobury Park.
A 1960's map showing the location of Grillo's before the ring road was built
"In 1969, this site was acquired by Watford Council for the construction of the Sutton Road multi-storey car park."
Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. No booking is necessary but Covid prevention measures are still in place to keep visitors safe.
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