Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the Week: Grandma’s Toy Shop, St Nick’s Market
Nestled in unit 24 of St Nick’s Market and selling a variety of stocking fillers, gifts and toys, Grandma’s Toy Shop has been running for 45 years.
Gemma Stear, granddaughter of owner Karen Stear, told me the story behind this shop that is cherished by the community: “My grandmother Karen started the business in 1981, it started as military fancy dress, which somehow developed into model cars and dinky toys, which then transformed into toys and gifts.”
The shop sells many old-school toys and gifts that bring warm nostalgia for many: from jigsaws and model building kits, to rubber ducks and even a card for your Mum’s birthday, which I conveniently was able to purchase.
Karen, who will be 90 this year, has owned the shop for half her life, and still works 3 days a week behind the counter.
Karen Stear is the owner and founder of Grandma’s Toy Shop – photo: St Nick’s Market
Gemma went on to express the value of the community within the retailers at the market and how over the years it’s “kept Grandma going.”
“You wouldn’t see someone who’s nearly 90 working in Cabot Circus, we all look out for each other,” she said.
With online retailers dominating the field in today’s digital age, Gemma reflected on how places like Grandma’s Toy Shop are beneficial for children’s social development.
“It’s important for children to come in and exchange their pocket money, it teaches them the value of money,” she said.
The shop sells an impressive range of items, including glamorous rubber ducks – photo: Freya Waters
With the future of St Nick’s Market entering turbulent territory due to the recent news that 5.5m pounds worth of repairs are needed, I asked Gemma what she thought the future may hold for the shop.
“It’s getting trickier to have a small independent business, but we will put up a fight for as long as possible.
“We’re one of the oldest toy shops in the city and I want to keep those traditional values going because they’re really important, especially to Grandma.”
Read Next:
- “We are concerned about the council’s view of St Nick’s Market as a cash cow to be milked”
- Shop of the week: Stokes Croft Post Office, Stokes Croft
- St Nick’s Market rent hike paused
Main photo: Freya Waters
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