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For me, the Corner Shop symbolises a wasted opportunity. Forever and a day it has been central to life on the Street but of late, the shop has become marginalised. I think there may be a staffing problem. Now don't get me wrong - I'm partial to a bit of Comedy Dev and even So-feh has her moments. Together though, they ain't Team Shop.
The dream teams at number fifteen are numerous. Maggie and Norma. Alf and the incomparable Deirdre. Alf and Sally. Maureen and Maud. Memorable colleagues one and all. Sometimes the pairings floundered. The Welsh granny and Nora Batty were about as appetising as a Marmite and coleslaw balm cake. Tricia and Gail were a giggling nightmare. Ravi 'dear lady' Desai and his miserable daughter. Brendan Scott and Emily 'Upstairs Downstairs' Bishop.
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It's about time the shop was back where it belongs, at the heart of this small community. That doesn't mean turning back the clock forty years and littering the place with bacon slicers and people coughing over the cake selections. The shop needs a strong female presence. Maybe a woman in her late forties, possibly freshly divorced or widowed, setting out on a new adventure in life. Her own shop. With the kids off her hands, this is now 'her time'. Of course, the kids would soon roll up and disrupt things but it could be an interesting story.
Years ago, the Street had fewer places for social interaction. If you weren't knocking down a milk stout in the Rovers or dropping off your order with Maggie/Renee (delete as applicable) then your only other chance for a gossip indoors would have been to jam yourself in Rita's lending library/café with Uncle Albert. Nowadays, the Street residents can ricochet from gym to café to kebab shop to Weatherfield General.
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16 comments:
Brilliant. Loved this and agree completely!
"...to Weatherfield General" haha, so true!
We will probably end up with Beth's gran running the place assisted by Callum . . .
I think the shop looks a mess !
I live in Canada so I don't know how things are in Britain these days. Are there still corner stores there? Where I live they're almost non-existent now. With most people having cars and large refrigerators the prevalent way to shop is in big chain supermarkets. It's cheaper and easier. Most of them are open in the evenings, so the only reason to use a small corner store is for things you forgot or ran out of, and since many gas stations have a similar equivalent stock of some staples, even that isn't necessary any longer.
Corner shop combos:
Dev and Mary?
Dev and not Sofey?
Maddie and not Sofey?
Beth's gran and Callum?
Ken and Tim?
Sally and Tim?
Not Sofey.
The Corner Shop, the Cafe, the Kabin, even the Community Centre. So many opportunities for everyday interaction - humour, drama, whatever. Completely wasted. The writers need to shake things up and get some new folks behind these counters for some entertainment!
I think I would prefer "GG" running the shop to the missed opportunity and boredom that is Dev who is now staler than last week's bread. In addition to the rudest little shop assistant in the world, Sophie Webster, the corner shop was once an integral part of the Street - remember the chair Ena used to sit on - now its just sidelined.
Let's have Mary in there and focus on her quirky, fun side instead of the nasty, spiteful streak that's unfortunately returned of late. Great article, the only thing I disagree with is the description of Ravi's daughter as 'miserable.' I remember Nita Desai as a spirited character who had a real spark to her but unfortunately was given few opportunities to shine. A situation which has unfortunately been repeated many times in the interim:(
What a great blog post! :) Couldn't agree more!
Much as I don't have time for Sean in his present version, running the corner shop could be the making of him. He's good with people; could be really interested in food ingredients/labels/additives; popular enough for customers to come in for a chat and feel they ought to buy something. As with all magic duos, he needs a colleague who appears to be the complete opposite but, after much huffing and puffing, they turn out to be a great team. Mary fits the bill so I vote for Sean and Mary.
Anyone would be an improvement over Sophie. Humpty good suggestion Sean and Mary that would work for me.
Sophie is an awful choice for the shop as she has zero personality so brings nothing to the place. Such a shame Julie is leaving and more so because the street is lacking in characters like her. I'm really stuck in thinking who else has much personality around that age - not many of them have or just don't suit.
I also think that the shop itself needs a refit. Aside from making the place look a little better, I don't know of any shop that doesn't have the counter near the door, it's much too handy as it is for shoplifter to pick up a little something on their way out.
No MARY no how, no where. I really despise her character now. She is not quirky or fun. She is a psychopath. Sean ? Absolutely, Sean would great in the corner store.
But, I would love to see Sally buy the corner store (she's got that lotto money) and her and Tim become the Corner Store couple.
I agree with Zagg and Anonymous above; Sally and Tim. It's about time she used that money from Kevin.
Sally and Tim would bring some atmosphere to the place. Shame Julie can't have opportunity.
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