31st July 2019

Latest female shopkeepers open for business

Female shopkeepers have played a substantial role in the history of the Bishy Road shops, and we’re delighted that our latest two shops are run by pairs of women.

While their premises would originally have offered basic commodities and services, the new traders reflect modern trends towards shopping as an experience, with unusual decorative products. But Bishy Road generally still serves its local neighbourhood with shops selling keenly-priced food and other products.

Next to Sainsbury's in Bishopthorpe Road, we now have Noun, which opened in June, selling gifts for children and adults as well as homeware and clothing. It’s a joint venture by Ellie McManaman, who used to run Bare here, and Gaynor Parr-Manley, who ran Olive’s Nest in Scarcroft Road. It’s where Glen and Julio had their hairdressing salon for over 40 years, and was originally a butcher’s shop. Back in 1883 the house and shop were advertised in the York Herald to let to butchers: ‘to a good man this is a rare opportunity’. Glen and Julio’s claim to fame was taking part in a Hollywood movie in 2001.

One of the best-selling lines in Ellie and Gaynor’s new shop is the beautiful dressing gowns by One Hundred Stars, made famous when Nigella Lawson wore one on her BBC television series, which had been sourced from Maude & Tommy in Grape Lane in York, sadly now closed.

The other new shop has just opened in what used to be Olive’s Nest. It’s Helston Street, a mother daughter partnership, run by Vanessa and Lucy. The name was taken from an old street sign. They specialise in rustic interior items, sourced from flea markets in the UK and France, as well as having connections to Sweden. Their shop was founded in 2015, and until now has been based in the Spark development in the city centre. This shop used to be Evolve Hairdressing, which had moved across the road. In the 1990’s it was Origins Hair & Beauty Studio. Some of you may remember Novak’s Watch Repairs here from the late 1940’s. People have told us that if you only had one watch then Mr Novak would lend you one while yours was being fixed, like a ‘courtesy’ car!

If you want to find out more about the history of our local shops, our book Bishy Road: a York shopping street in time is still available, price £5 from Pextons, Frankie and Johnny's, Cycle Heaven, Cameron Beaumont, Fruitique, The Winning Post and the Chocolate Works Care Village, as well as Clements Hall.