Noooooooo way! Neighbourhood Store is 6.
6 years ago today, we opened the doors of our beloved Neighbourhood Store, albeit in the space across the road. 5 minutes before opening the doors on our first day we had no idea how the vintage 90s till bloody worked and didn't have a float. Nevertheless, we opened with a big boom, and we've never looked back. We have since managed to work out a float and even cash up.
What a ride it's been, we still pinch ourselves that we run this little shop of pure joy, every single day. It's certainly not been easy, far from it. Cost of living on top of Covid/ Brexit/ Building sale etc, etc . We won't lie, there have been times when we have considered if we should continue. Especially with all the shit that was thrown at us in the last year over the road, it did nearly break us. But we didn't, we pulled up our business socks and carried on. And thank goodness. I think it is normal to have doubts right? But they become less and less as the years pass.
We know lots of you know the story of how Gary and I met but as some of you haven't...
Gary and I grew up in the same town, Taunton in Somerset. We went to different primary schools but the same secondary school. Gary always says he thought I was hot at school 'short hair/ short skirt'. I [Em] didn't really notice Gary until he was around 17/18 but when I did, I really did. I had such a crush on him. He always says I was his groupie [he was in a band] but I don't remember ever seeing him play back then. It was purely his good looks in my mind. Anyway, we did have a little snog once, back in those days, outside Taunton Pool on a Saturday night. But neither of can really remember what happened afterwards but he moved to Bristol, then onto Brighton while I packed up a rucksack and went travelling to Australia & Asia. When I came home it was pretty clear Taunton was not where I wanted to stay and after a weekend in Brighton I ended up moving up the next weekend and never looked back.
Jump forward many more years and our paths crossed one evening in 'my' local. I recognised him immediately, but I couldn't for the life of remember his name. Coz Gary is a hard one to recall right?! Anyway, after a couple of pints/ dutch courage I approached him at the bar and said 'alright Super Flu' [his old band name] to which he replied... 'alright Emma Criddle'.
That was 8.5 years ago.
People often ask us how we work together and live together very happily. It is all about knowing our roles, something we set from the start. Sometimes the lines blur, mind. Like if Gary does a shit display when I away or if I spend too much on vintage display units but mostly we stick to our skill set. I personally would not want to run this little shop with anyone else in the world, and I am not sure if I ever would have taken the leap if it wasn't for Gary.
So there, gushy lovely stuff nearly done...
Last up. Wishing our wonderful Neighbourhood Store a very happy birthday, thank you for keeping us safe and happy all these years. Thank you to all our artists now and over the past 6 years that have trusted us with your creations, to our amazing regular customers, our new customers, our Insta friends our community, our family and our IRL friends.
Ok, really done now. Apart from, as a thank you here is a 10% off online purchases/ click & collects for the rest of today. Simply add 'birthday10' at the checkout.
Biggest love and thanks for being here.
Em & Gary aka Saturday Boy xxx