THE ONLY SHOP OPEN LATER WAS THE COP SHOP

You couldn’t miss the Capri – with its giant rotating coffee cup and saucer on the roof. Owned by Eric Collins, the Capri was famous in Blenheim and open all hours. It could seat 150 people who could get coffee for 15c and sausages and eggs for 85c. Cops in uniform got their coffee for free.

The driver of the Fiat Bambino in this photo used to park right outside, something that annoyed Eric. On the morning this was taken ( at 4.10am ) the driver was busting for a pee and decided to drive right in through the front doors. Unusually, there was someone there with a camera to record it. Eric has plenty more stories. Many of them printable…

Photo courtesy of Graham Brooks