Wow, look at this amazing rarity
yes, I hear you say, it's a greengrocer's shop. Whoopee do. So what? Well, this is Bramley's - it's the only greengrocer's shop in Cirencester and it's new. The last small greengrocer closed some years ago, leaving the almost the entire fruit and veg market to the supermarkets. There is a farmers market of course, for local seasonal produce but that's not there every day, and fine as it is, it's some way from any parking area, so people tend not to buy large amounts of heavy stuff, like potatoes and oranges.
It may seem amazing to people like my daughter say, who, living in London is surrounded by fine shops selling all kinds of British. European and Asian greengrocery, but in many English towns small shops have, one by one, fallen victim to the overwhelming buying power of supermarkets and closed down. They tend, by the way, to reopen as coffee shops, I had a quick count up and there are at least eleven cafes and coffee shops in Cirencester at the moment. At least most of them are independents though, and some of them are really good, but I can't help wondering how much coffee people can drink?
Anyway it does seem like perhaps the tide is turning, we now have a fishmonger in the town, and I also noticed a new butcher's shop has opened too, maybe people are at last getting tired of one stop shopping, and some variety will be returning to our town centres at last. And one of the best things about this shop is that it's in the middle of the Brewery car park, so you can buy your potatoes, oranges, swedes and other heavy items and put them straight in the car, without giving yourself a hernia. So hopefully people will use it. I was in a hurry when I snapped this pic on my phone, so didn't have time to go in, but it all looked good and I will certainly be giving it a try very soon.
I'm sorry if this seems unneccesary jubilation over a simple greengrocer's shop, especially coming from someone who bangs on about home grown fruit and veg, but I can't grow lemons say, and the salad's a bit thin on the ground in November, so it's great for those things, but most of all it's a resurrection of some kind of choice and variety in the high street that I'm so pleased to see. Well done Bramleys and good luck!
Seeing that your town is somehow bucking the norm and interesting, little shops are opening up is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteWe are getting a Walmart in our small town next year and it will be the death nell for many of the quaint little shops on our Main Street.
Dear Kathy, How right you are to applaud the arival of an independent greengrocer. They are, as you say, an endangered species and fully deserve evry bit of encouragement and support that one can muster. Long may Bramley's [such a wonderful name] thrive!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea - it just may catch on! LOL! We lost a whole lot of Mom & Pop businesses when Wal Mart and the like started taking over.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the sort of thing people should be banging on about because its a good thing for everyone. Its about time someone showed the big bully boys where to get off.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear this. The eternal sameness of big grocery stores has come to be a blight. Unless you're lucky enough to have a Wegman's near you, and they haven't crossed the ocean yet. Your small greengrocer will be a lovely alternative.
ReplyDeleteI wish more places would do the same. I would far rather buy from a butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer. I am sure it would be so much fresher and taste better. Dianee
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone, seems we all agree on that one!
ReplyDeleteNice to see a shop like this opening. Here in SW France there are still many small shops still open, but they are a dying breed, as can be seen for number of empty shops in every village. Still, your photo of a newly opened grocery store was cheering.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right in being happy and making a note of this on your blog. We don't have any here either, of course, but on our way to the larger town there is a farm with a really nice store where you can buy produce. But that's kind of far away.
ReplyDeletewe need to big up the small shop owner!!!
ReplyDeletein 10 years there will be just the bloody supermarkets left
xxx arrhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
makes me relise how spolit i am in london!
ReplyDeleteLovely post Kathy, my local greengrocers is closing down this month as the lease has run out and the owner does not want to renew for another 5 years with a giant tescos on the cards for the area. Can't blame him but it will be sad when it is gone, even more reason to grow more next year
ReplyDelete