Thursday, March 26, 2009

Just Fancy



I can't visit Scarborough without checking that John Werrit is still open. This shop always loomed large in our childhood visits to the town, with its mesmerising display of novelties (is this what is meant by 'fancy goods' - I'm never sure), each with a handwritten price ticket. The key, it is said, to a profitable shop is profit per square foot of retail space and literally every inch of the windows at John Werrit is selling something. Practical jokes, cigarette lighters, Princess Diana plates, risqué souvenirs, stickers, patches, bullet keyrings, postcards. The only obvious change since they were selling I Shot JR mugs is the new sign, which used to be a magnificent example of Stymie Bold Italic. God Save Little Shops, as the Kinks once sang.

3 comments:

Affer said...

Stink bombs, fake blood, the old nail-through-the finger, fake dog turds.....I suppose some H&S killjoy will outlaw them all soon, but I hope our kids enjoy them all for a long time to come - just as we did!

ally. said...

somehow i've never managed to go go to scarborough or any of those yorkshire type seaside lovelies. this is one more reason to shift my bloomin arse
x

TIW said...

You and your Holga would love it, Ally.