the Pop Inn had been there ages but the change came when "greedy" Bob took over with his wife Jane, eventually renaming it Streets Ahead. I always felt their change in direction and subsequent success was down to me and my mates going in every day on our way to get the 263/4 home and asking for increasingly obscure singles.
If you read any of the Rough Trade histories they get a few mentions as they became the nortwest hub for the RT distribution network and as such really important in that postpunk era.
Also of course they were responsible for promoting the legendary gigs at the Bowdon Vale Club, Joy Division, the Fall, Scritti Politti etc etc
look at that line up! every now and then I tell a factory/joy division obsessive I was there and watch them froth at the mouth