It is five years since Vokins, Brighton, closed its doors for the last time.

With Hanningtons also closed, the city's once premier shopping area looks like a battle zone - empty buildings, cranes and roadworks. But perhaps it will come right in the end.

There is a story about Gordon Selfridge, who created the great Selfridge store in London. One day, he returned to his home town and walked into the main shop.

In conversation with the shop's proprietor, he just couldn't resist a little boast. "I have a grand store in London," he trumpeted.

The shopkeeper replied: "Aye, that may be, but have you got the Post Office?" Vokins in North Street never did have the Post Office and perhaps that was its problem.

In Brighton in the Sixties there were a number of substantial family-owned retail businesses, including Hanningtons, Vokins, Johnsons and Wades.

Now the individuality we all enjoyed has gone and the national chains have taken over both our city centres and chunks of our countryside.

But cousins David and Stephen Vokins are doing their best to restore some enterprise into the old family business.

Stephen is managing director of Vokins@Home and recently opened a new store in Western Road, Hove. "We're pleased to see you back," say many of the shoppers and takings have been good.

Stephen runs four shops in Rustington, Hove, Brighton and Newhaven - next to carpet specialist Fludes, another retailer doing battle with the big battalions.

David is managing firector of Vokins Furniture Store, off Sackville Road, Hove. That is doing well too.

"How do you manage to compete?" I asked. David replied: "We subscribe to an excellent buying group but I think the real secret is our dedication to providing a first-class service. We deliver by appointment and on time."

He added: "We have made several bids for property so we could expand but landlords and the big retailers tend to stick together."

Stephen and David expect their combined takings will soon be more than the old North Street store.

The evening after I met the cousins, I bumped into Dudley Flude. He told me he was off to relieve the manager at Fludes' shop in Haywards Heath.

Let's hope the two families keep going.

We need them just as much as DFS, Carpetwright, Beds-R-Us and the rest.