The shop that Jack built

A while ago I mentioned wandering around battlefield while I waited for an X-ray. On that walk I found a load of old, interesting shops one of which is shown above, J. E. Levingstone's Gift Store 47-55 Sinclair Drive. I decided to go into the store and have a chat with the owner on the pretence of buying something. I wasn't sure what I would buy but the window display gave the impression that there would be a wide scope once inside.

I walked up and tried the door, but it was locked. Disapointed I was about to turn away when a elderly man in a smart suite and hat darted over to the door and unlocked it. "Come on in."

The man was Jack, who was in his 60's and had set the shop up with his wife many moons ago. Smart as a pin and dressed like the 1950's Jack was extremely helpful though seemed almost wary to have a customer in his shop.

I asked if I could have a quick look round, while I tried to think of something to buy. I was correct to think that the shop would have a wide selection of goods for sale, it has hundreds of things. Though they are all of a very strange choice, like from the past - ceramic bears, toy cars, tartan pencil cases, flowery stationary, cassette players and blank tapes!! There is also a huge selection of really useful everyday things, like scissors, selotape, staples, boxes, pens, evenlopes, pins, plugs and other everyday household items.

It really is an amazing cave of a place, with boxes stacked high on the floor and on the shelves. I had the odd feeling that I had gone back in time to the days of "open all hours" or that I was an explorer in uncharted land.

I decided to buy some batteries as they always come in useful so I asked Jack if he had any. He thought for a minute turned away and started to rummage in some boxes before presenting a set of four AA batteries. I handed Jack a £20 note but he didn't have any change. I offered to go buy something from one of the other nearby shops and come back but Jack insisted that I looked an honest lad and that the next time I was passing I could just drop in the money.

Despite Jack's protests I didn't feel comfortable leaving without paying so went to the nearest newsagent and bought juice and some sweets to break the £20 and then went back to Jack, who again jumped up to let me in.

I handed over the money and Jack set about controlling a giant ornate beast of a til which gobbled up the money and almost his figiners. I asked him about keeping the front door locked and he told me that they really only kept the Gift part of the shop open as a wee extra and a storage area as their main business was supplying stationary to local businessess and that they had a stationary department two doors down. I told him about Southside Happenings and he happily let me take a couple of photos but couldn't understand why anyone would want to see his little shop. Sadly he refused to let me take his own photo. I packed away my batteries thanked Jack and he let me out the shop and locked the door behind me and returned to his comfy chair.

Anyone got anymore suggestions for good shops we could visit that have interesting characters to chat too?

(I'll add a few more details about the shop when I find my notebook where I wrote down the things Jack told me)