The Eddy Grimstead ‘Empire’ was something of a moving feast; in order to give some idea of the scope of the organisation, Classic Scooterist has compiled a list of the Grimstead outlets and, as far as is known, a pocket history of these shops.
GENESIS
Perhaps a little outside the scope of this article, but worth mentioning, is the fact that under the guidance of his father, Eddy Grimstead senior, the young Eddy Grimstead started his first business in a shop in the Brentwood Road, Romford, selling bicycles. However, this proved to be a short-lived exercise, as Eddy junior’s bid for the top was interrupted by the government-imposed National Service (in Eddy’s case, compulsory conscription as a soldier between the years 1953 and 1955).
FISHER STREET/BECKTON ROAD, CANNING TOWN, E16
The first shop run by the Grimstead family was Beckton Road, which due to its corner site position was known as ‘Grimstead’s Corner’. This name would be familiar to the locals and was proudly painted on the wall above the shop entrance.
It was purchased and opened in 1908 by Robert Grimstead as a bike shop selling and renting bicycles by the hour. Robert and his wife Elizabeth had eight children (four girls, four boys). To bring in more money and to provide employment for his sons, Robert also owned three limousines, a Minerva and two Rolls Royces. These would be hired out and chauffeur-driven by Robert’s four sons – Bob (Roger Grimstead’s father), Eddy Snr
