Owner of popular Fraserburgh chipper opens up over ‘heartbreak’ of sale

The owner of St Modans fish and chip shop has opened up on her heartbreak over giving up her business.

The popular Fraserburgh chipper is set to be sold in the coming weeks as boss Laura Kurteshi, 35, prepares to hand over the reins.

Speaking to The Press and Journal, she said her family have been in tears over the move which was announced on Friday night – calling it “the end of an era.”

The shop has been frying for over six years in the Broch, but will be looking for a new owner starting from today.

Based on St Modans Place, the take-away has already seen a number of interested parties.

Laura said she has been forced into the move due to family commitments.

But the upcoming sale “doesn’t feel real” yet, as she shows potential buyers around the business.

The shop remains open in the meantime.

Closure of St Modans fish and chip shop ‘the end of an era’

Laura said: “It’s really sad. Yesterday we put it up for sale and we are still in the midst of processing it.

“The shop meant a lot to us, and it was a huge step for us in terms of putting it up for sale.

“For us as a family, it’s just not something that we can keep going.”

She added: “It doesn’t feel real. It’s so sad. My daughter works there and she was in tears when I told her last night.

“It was a really hard decision, but it’s the right one for us.”

She added that it is the customers she will miss the most once a new owner is found.

“We have been in the street since 2018 and you get to know everyone and the other surrounding businesses,” she said.

“It’s the end of an era.”

‘Money is not everything’

Laura now has her hands full with a two-year-old and teenagers aged 15 and 16.

“I only have my mum to rely upon for baby-sitting, and she is not really getting a day off these days,” she added.

“It’s just not feasible to look after the kids and keep the shop going the way we want it to.”

She now looks forward to spending more time with family.

“Money is not everything,” she continued.

“You can always make money somehow, but you cannot get the time back with your kids and your family.”