Round the corner from where I live, next door to the Chinese takeaway, is an empty shop. It has been empty for as long as we have lived here, which is over a year now. I have often thought it a shame that it is empty when it could be something wonderful. I had started to wonder if I should try to fulfil my ambition of opening a tea room there. I'm not sure if it would be the best location but it would have been very handy and I had already started to picture what it would look like as my tea room - what sort of tables and chairs I would have, what colour I would paint the walls, and what cakes I would have on the menu.
However, last week I noticed there were people inside painting it white and fixing hanging baskets to the outside. There is still no sign as to what sort of shop it is going to be but I have created a wish-list of what I hope it might be. I know it will not be a Co-op, butchers, chip shop, Kebab and pizza takeaway, hairdressers or picture framers as we already have those in the village.
My new shop wish-list
* Tea room (obviously stealing my idea but it would be nice to have somewhere to go for the odd sociable lunch break rather than sitting on my own at home)
* Bakery - there is currently no bakery in the village, although there is one in the next village but that is not very good and too far to walk to. A French bakery would be good with baguettes and pastries as the Co-op does not do much in the way of good bread
* Delicatessen - with cheeses from around the world and olives and other yummy stuff in pots
* Book shop - this would be great but possibly a bit dangerous with my book buying addiction
* Card and gift shop - very handy for last minute presents and forgotten birthdays. Currently the only cards in the village are from Co-op and they are very poor. They are always running out of wrapping paper too. Don't think the village is big enough to sustain this type of shop though
* Pet shop - as long as it sells Burns and Nature Diet
* Sweet shop - as long as it sells old fashioned sweets in jars
* Gallery - although I wouldn't be able to afford nice abstract art, it would be nice to have a little gallery that changed its stock frequently so I could go and browse
* Fishmongers - for some nice fresh, pre-filleted fish and Cromer crabs
What I would NOT like to see ...
* Mobile phone shop - they suck the joy from me like a Dementor
* Sports shop - I would have no use for that
* Book makers - would attract the wrong sort to the village
I will, of course, blog the new shop when it has been revealed. Place your bets now!
Labels: Melton Constable, new shop
