The Kabin Originally a newsagents known as as Biddulphs incorporating a cafe and a lending library , the shop at 16 Rosamund Street was bought by Len Fairclough in May 1973 . The name was later changed to The Kabin ( despite Rita ' s suggestion of ' Rita ' s ' turned down ) with Len ' s love interest Rita Littlewood as the new manager - a title which she held for more than thirty years despite changes in ownership , staff and location . Quickly realising that staff was needed , Rita appointed Mavis Riley , despite Mavis ' bout of hiccups during the interview . Mavis was to work alongside Rita for over twenty - five years . Often infuriated by each other , a genuine and lasting friendship developed between the two ladies that continued with Rita still going to visit Mavis at her guesthouse in Cartmel . Len made the ownership deeds of The Kabin out in Rita ' s name as a business convenience . When he attempted to sell The Kabin to Alfred Wormold , he found that Rita was unwilling to sell and blocked the deal , denying Len a profit but ensuring her independence . In 1990 , The Kabin relocated to a new location on the corner of Coronation Street , opposite the Corner Shop and next to Kevin Webster ' s garage . No longer feeling safe in her own home after her experiences with Alan Bradley , Rita moved into the flat above The Kabin . In 1992 , The Kabin brought romance into Rita ' s life when she married Ted Sullivan , who she had met through his job as representative for a confectionery company . In 1999 , after a long absence , Sharon Gaskell , Len and Rita ' s long term foster - daughter , returned to Weatherfield . In an attempt to keep Sharon in Weatherfield , Rita gave her The Kabin and took a job as Sharon ' s assistant . When Sharon was reunited with her husband and the couple decided to leave the area , Rita was forced with no option but to buy back The Kabin for £40 , 000 . In 2000 , Rita underwent training and was able to open a sub Post Office in The Kabin . The Post Office remained until 2010 when the shop was badly damaged by the tram crash . When the Kabin reopened in March 2011 , the sub Post Office had gone . In recent years Rita ' s assistant has been Norris Cole . Growing unhappy with his role as an assistant despite his senior years , Norris was allowed to invest in The Kabin , becoming a junior partner . In 2004 , The Kabin was at the centre of an attempt by Cilla Battersby - Brown to blackmail Rita over accusations of assault on Chesney Battersby - Brown . Rita spent a night in jail after an outburst in court , but the attempt failed when the judge awarded only negligible compensation . Rita considered selling the business as a result of the incident , but was talked out of it by Audrey Roberts . Also in 2004 , Norris became convinced The Kabin was haunted when he learnt that the newsagents was built on the site of the former Mission of Glad Tidings , where Vera Lomax had died . The cause of the strange events that worried Norris were eventually diagnosed by builder , Charlie Stubbs , as nothing more than the effects of rising damp . In September 2009 , Rita decided to leave her precious Kabin to Norris . In December 2010 , both the Kabin and the flat above were badly damaged in the tram crash , with Rita trapped in the ruined shop for hours until Norris raised the alarm and she was found by the emergency services . The shop and flat were rebuilt and reopened in March 2011 as ' Norris ' s News ' . Rita was distraught but thanks to Emily Bishop , the shop was changed back to The Kabin shortly afterwards . When Rita or Norris are ill or on holiday , Emily Bishop usually covers at The Kabin for them , however most recently Dennis Tanner covered for Norris and Mary Taylor covered for Rita .