It got me thinking though, as the snow swirled around. Here in the UK there has been a big push to rejuvenate the nation's high streets and get small shops back up and running again. It seems unlikely that Mary Portas is going to lend a hand, so I had a wander around my locality and offer the following ideas to Weatherfield Council.
Shoe repairs - horribly old-fashioned but important in cash-strapped Britain. Maybe Jason could retrain as a cobbler.
A computer software shop - OK, I don't predict many show-stopping storylines here. "There's worry for Audrey this week when her ink cartridge runs out".
Stationery printing - now this could be good! Nice, cottage-industry stuff, employing a few locals - maybe Gail as a manager, Chesney operating the equipment, Mary on sales . . . It might work.
An opticians - limited storylines again unless everyone suddenly developed serious eye strain on a weekly basis. Front of house would, of course, be Deirdre modelling the latest style every day.
Maybe a 'no' though to charity shops - remember Emily ran one years ago with a frightening old biddy called Ruby? Hardware stockists are probably a bad idea too. Sally Webster, three watering cans and a wheelbarrow does not a business make.
What should occupy the Elliot shop then? Is there a glaring omission in Corrie's mercantile world? What shopping experience do the good folk of Weatherfield need?
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10 comments:
A Citizen's Advice Bureau where residents drop by to confide their problems. More realistic than the lawyers cash strapped people like Fiz and the Barlows turn to.
Either a:
fruit and veg shop
a launderette
or a clothes boutique - managed by Gail who has experience from Sylvia's Separates and the Western Front
We really need a nice women's clothing shop. We have lots of young pretty women, so why are they giving their business to t'precinct? Maybe not Miami Modes, that's a bit old fashioned for 2013. Trying to think of a clothing shop name that could have a nod to the former business, but for the life of me, I cannot tie in frocks with sausages. Anyone else?
Rumors floated around that Julie and Brian were to open a green grocer but never seemed to have materialized. I thought the butcher shop would have been the perfect spot for it. It would have also provided a place close to home for Deidre to buy marrow.
Going by my high street, the only shops that survive are the pound shops and the discount chains. Of course, as it's soapland, it doesn't have to be realistic but it would make a nice change. Agree with many of the above and to add a few extra:
- a discount food shop to annoy Dev
- a Polish deli to annoy Dev
- Carla's Casuals which she builds up after a terrible fire at the factory
- a dry cleaners. They're still popular. An upmarket version of the launderette which is a bit too EE
- a nail bar to annoy the salon.
I got another one.
Most high streets have a pharmacy. A place for Tina/Kylie/Maria/Tracy to buy their pregnancy kits. Perhaps condoms for all those one-night-stands, a nosy pharmacist who is less ethical than Dr. Carter (is he still in the cast?). Would be a chance to bring in an educated professional who lives and works on the door step.
I thought the pharmacy was next door to the medical centre?
Diedre's at a dead-end these days, why can't the writers introduce Ann Kirkbride's painting talent into Diedre's character. Ken could open up a book store in the old Butcher shop and sell her paintings as well. Better than the constant wing chair sitting with book in hand. Bring in Craig to help clean the place after school and you probably have comedy gold with his interactions with the customers and Ken and Diedre.
I think the medical centre's pharmacy is just their own dispensary, not one you can walk into and buy stuff. A small chemist would work there, or, going by other high streets i've seen in various parts of Salford, a cut price mobile phone shop with accessories etc.
why is a shoe heeler "horribly old fashioned". Do you just throw your shoes out and buy new when they need a sole and heel then? That would be a good idea, together with a key cutters, a good role for Kirka. That would make more sense than Div's daft kebab shop. what about a charity shop, they usually occupy unlet premises, Emily and Dreary could help out there. Plenty of stories rather than based around the ridiculous outdated faktry!
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