Charlie Coe bought the delicensed "Gardeners Arms" in Parsonage Street, Halstead in 1924 and reopened it as a shop selling grocery, greengrocery and confectionary. He was well known for travelling around the streets with his cart pulled by his faithful friend 'Kate'. Hearing his familiar cry echoing round the houses, the ladies would run from their homes armed with their bags to fill with his "new peas and new potatoes" and any other homegrown produce he was selling.
