The owner of this small family-run business is no fool. Although Turkish herself, she is well aware, like Faris's Supermarket in the High Street of the potential damage the economic giant situated not much more that a couple of hundred meters away at the corner of the High Street and St James's Street could do to her business. She is not going to fall into the trap of competing with the Turkish shop for its niche business of mediterranean foods, though she does stock some fresh vegetables.
St James Supermarket, therefore, though Turkish owned, supplies very little Turkish food, save the odd sausage in the chill cabinet at the back of the shop. These are generally outnumbered by charcuterie aiming at Polish and English customers. There are piles of free magazines in Polish near the till. The condiments, pastes, spices and many of the 'ambient goods' on offer in what seems like an ethnic version of Costcutter, are also slanted towards a mixed Western and Central European, Pakistani and Indian trade. There is also a fair range of other items like soaps, hennas and shampoos.
On entry, rather like at Moonlight Food Store, the shop's most prominent display is its wide range of alcohol and cigarettes.
St James Supermarket is the green fronted shop at 44 St James's Street, opposite the Coach and Horses and between Alpha Radio and Elite Property Services.