The British Red Cross shop, next door to Cafe Azrou and Simple Designs would have made a fine stop to pick up a second-hand book before dropping in next door for a coffee, but unfortunately they were never as strong in the book department as Help the Aged, Crest or Oxfam further down the High Street. In an attempt to re-invigorate the shop, they consigned the literature to a high shelf towards the back of the shop, along with the CDs.
Nevertheless, despite attempts to 'improve it' with a new layout a couple of months ago, emphasizing the orderly racks of second-hand clothes on display, the shop closed.
This was a personal loss. Before someone, who should have understood that they couldn't sell second-hand clothes when the market had new ones priced for less right outside the front door, messed around with the place, I used to be able to walk past laden with vegetables from the market and step in a breather. I would peruse the shelves and even used to buy the odd book, before they consigned them to the oblivion of the back of the shop. The British Red Cross has also moved out, having failed to make money selling donated goods, leaving behind an empty shell.
The shop was for some time then the home to a sandwich board saying it is the place of business of Dr Don Pavlos, Interpreteure Extraordinaire, Reader of the Tarot. 'Have your fortune told inside the shop'. It seemed that we all would be reduced to telling fortunes, not making them, under the current government and local authority. Dr Pavlos, interestingly, did not announce his opening times on his sign. Presumably, he knew when to turn up with his pack of cards for the right person.
The irony of the Red Cross's failed attempt at selling clothes second hand is that in May 2008 the shop space was filled by a trader selling clothes. He clearly thought he was still on the market given his no refunds policy.
2007-11-01 @ 10:28