Wally’s Book – From the Anschluss to the Arcades

From the Anschluss to the Arcades: The Evolution of a Family Store by Steven Salamon tells the story of Wally’s and the family behind it.

This book explores the evolution of a family store in Cardiff, South Wales, founded by a Jewish refugee family who escaped persecution in Nazi Europe. It follows their journey through persecution and escape, survival and rebuilding, and their place in Cardiff’s refugee and food communities over three-quarters of a century.

Alongside the family’s attempts to flee Nazi Europe, it shares warm accounts of family life and the founding and growth of the store. Their experiences illuminate wider historical events and the challenges of arriving and integrating in the UK in the 1930s.

At its heart is the story of three generations, their family business, and lives entwined with the seismic events of the 20th century.