The Paceville site that once hosted Wembley Motors, a cab and minivan operator once considered a near-essential service for generations of youths and the young-at-heart, is being converted into a convenience outlet run by SPAR Express.
Wembley Motors used to be one of the few ways partygoers could get back home in the wee hours of the morning, with people lining up inside and outside the small space to book a ride in group minivans.
Its services were overtaken by market developments that saw digital-first cab platforms like eCabs, Bolt and Uber grow in popularity as smartphones became ubiquitous, and a ‘For Sale’ sign appeared on the façade in 2022.
Now, a Facebook user has snapped a photo of works currently taking place on the site, which now sports a SPAR Express logo, dubbing it the "end of an era".
The change was met with an emotional reponse, with some commentors reminiscing on days gone by while others questioned the need for another grocery outlet on a stretch of road that already has several others in operation.
Paceville has long been a locality in flux, with the nature of the entertainment business that calls it home meaning that few establishments last more than a generation, with new tastes and trends driving constant renewal.
