Townsman, 1991-11, Page 32antique co-op store in what they
believe was an old tannery. The bot-
tom floor of the building is a show-
place for four independent dealers,
whose varied specialties give the store
its unique atmosphere.
Gloria Ross,wife of Wayne,
operates A Touch Of Country, which
deals in reproduction furniture and
accessories, on the second floor of 2
Fraser Street. The third floor is full of
Timoni's Trunks and Treasures, a
selection of everything from stereo-
scopic cards and viewers to antique
trunks and parts.
Karyn attributes the merchants
with the success of the business com-
munity. "About 80 percent of the
owners live with their business," she
said. "That is an old-world feeling,
one that comes with pride in living
with and working for your own busi-
ness."
Roxanne Jervis agrees. "When
Building owners
bring buildings
back to more
than they were
people buy a building here they spend
time bringing it back to more than it
was when they bought it. Because we
live in the buildings it shows that we
mean to be here, we're not putting up
a chintzy facade. "
Not only do the merchants pre-
sent a positive front individually but
as a community spirit as well. The
merchants formed two years ago and
became an organization that jointly
advertised Shakespeare. They have
openly battled GST, lobbied for busi-
ness interests and weathered the reces-
sion. "Shakespeare was to be
developed for the use of the country -
Go ng out?
Check out the
What's up
listings in Townsman first
side as a centre and retirement place
for the farming community," said
Karyn. "But, the farmers became
more cautious about spending and
small stores closed. Our town fathers
wanted to maintain that country
flavour but we lobbied for them to
recognize the tourist travel business
component. As a group we've been
fairly successful, though sometimes
it's tough to get diversity on track,
when you have to overcome the
garbage," said Karyn.
"Everybody is doing their bit to
accommodate special needs. Excep-
tions can be made to keep customers
1
happy," says Roxanne. "The main
thing is that because the merchants
here have run quality businesses you
get people coming back and refer-
rals."
It's good old-fashioned hospital-
ity that attracts many to Shakespeare.
For example the unique "brolly" ser-
vice for shopping on rainy days. Cus-
tomers pick up an umbrella at the
door and carry it with them to their
next stop, where they deposit it in the
basket. "It is so terrific on a rainy day
to look out and see all these umbrellas
bobbing up and down the street," said
Karyn. "It's a good feeling."
1
1
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30 TOWNSMAN/NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1991