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For 112 years, the Cavanna family in Senghenydd ran a store on Commercial Street.

But December marked the end of an era when the family sold the store that had bore its name for generations.

But as one era comes to a close, a fresh one dawns with new owner Jag Singh keen to continue to serve the community – complete with a smile on his face.

The 35-year-old father-of-two has experience of running a shop. He currently runs a convenience store in the Tremorfa area of Cardiff and up until around four years ago he ran a store in Aberkenfig, near Bridgend.

But Jag’s story in Senghenydd began a couple of years ago, when he bought the kebab shop opposite Cavanna’s, along with the flats above the takeaway.

“It was a drug house when I bought it,” Jag said. “The water tank had smashed and water had leaked through the building. It had to be completely gutted.

“It’s actually cost me more to do it up than it was to buy it,” he admitted.

After selling his shop in Aberkenfig, the businessman become a self-taught builder – a huge advantage as he embarked upon the project.

But while working on the takeaway – which Jag hopes will reopen with kebabs and Indian cuisine this summer – Cavanna’s piqued his interest.

After everything was agreed and signed, Jag moved into the shop and started pressing ahead with his plans.

“A shop like this and a post office are important for a village like Senghenydd. Once you lose a post office it’s really hard to get it back.

“The post office is still open here, which is really handy for the community.

“People are still coming in and telling me they’re relieved the post office is staying open – they were worried they were going to lose it.”

While the post office is staying, the store itself is undergoing a revamp.

The store now stocks a variety of groceries, alcohol, pet food, toiletries, homemade rolls and more, with plans for a mini bakery section, and a coffee machine.

Jag is also planning to spruce up the outside of the shop, with brand new red signage set to be fitted with the store’s new name – Senghenydd Booze and News.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Jag said. “If you don’t enjoy it there’s no point in doing it. I’m in this for the long-haul.”

When asked about his favourite part of the job, Jag said it was chatting to his customers.

“I’m a very talkative person – I can talk for all of Sneggy,” he said.

He is also keen to give back to his new community, having collected more than £200 for Aber Valley Foodbank through a collection tin on the counter. He also wants to introduce a donation basket to the shop so customers can donate food to those less fortunate.

“I’m a Sikh, and Sikhism is a charitable religion”, he said.

The store currently has one employee alongside Jag, but he wants to hire another employee in the near future. He is also hoping to employ three workers at the takeaway when it reopens, as well as delivery drivers.

Annlouise Cavanna, who ran the shop with her sister Cristina, said: “The shop has seen many changes of the 100 plus years that my family has been here. Jag’s arrival is another welcome chapter in this shop’s history. He has fitted in to the village already and we wish him every success.”