Corner stores a hub again

However, as supermarket giants muscle in on mum and dad owned operators, the role of a corner store in defining the characteristics of a neighbourhood has fallen to coffee shops starting to set up in residential areas.

And it seems if drinking coffee is an addiction, then this new phenomenon of coffee shops are communal venues where indulging in your favourite past time is seen as nothing short of trendy.

Bill Parianos and his fiancee Lisa only set up shop, quite literally, in Dave Hackett’s old butchery on the busy corner of McLachlan Street and Summer Street East in January this year.

“We never wanted to be a main street cafe. That was never our intention,” said Bill’s Beans’ owner Mr Parianos.

“We were both told people would never sit on metal chairs out the front but they were proven wrong.

“People love the setting but it’s a full-on kind of business and from our perspective when you are repetitiously doing the same thing all day, all week, all month and all year, you either immerse yourself in the culture or you go crazy.”

Indeed speak to any East Orange local and they’ll tell you Bill’s is the social hub of East Orange, which Lisa aptly described as a “little village”.

“The shop is like a corner store where you get to know people and they become like family,” she said.

Over at Perry Oval Panty on the other side of the city you’ll find Jo McMillan.

She says the secret to the survival of the corner store rested on a good stock range and friendly service.

“I’ve only had the shop since June last year but when we got it the business was really struggling.

“A lot of shops don’t survive because they no longer have the range of things people are after.

“If the customer service is also lacking then there’s not much hope of keeping a strong business,” said Ms McMillan.

Have your say - What do you think is the social meeting point in your neighbourhood? Email bevan.shields@ruralpress.com with your thoughts.