If you're looking for Dublin's oldest shop, you'll find that it has recently reopened on Parliament Street.
One thing Dublin has is a wonderful array of coffee, food and drink offerings. Another thing Dublin is rich in is interesting history. When those things cross over, something magical happens.
House of Read is now open on Parliament Street. It is Dublin's oldest shop still in operation and preserved to transport visitors back in time. You will feel like you are in an authentic 1670s Dublin shop when stepping inside.
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The shop was first established by William Read, Arthur Guinness' grandfather, in 1670.
Now open as House of Reads, it was continually open right up until the 1990s. It now offers a unique food and drink experience as well as high end quality kitchenware.
Dublin Live paid a visit to the shop and found out about its history and how that feeds into its modern day offering.
The owners told us: "Then building is Dublin's oldest merchant house and shop. When it was acquired, it was literally falling down inside. We had a passion for its history, particularly its mercantile history in Dublin.
"William Read had brewed Ale in Kildare but he lost his licence. He acquired the cutlery business in 1670 and the business has run here for 350 years. He had three children, James, Anne and Catherine, who married Richard Guinness. Her first born was Arthur Guinness.
"When we came into the building seven years ago, we discovered 22,000 items in the basement. We found swords, muskets, cutlery, medical instruments, all branded and made here by Reads. Their business started out as sword making."
The owners told Dublin Live that they wanted to be sensitive to the building's history and wanted to make it available to the public.
They said: "We wanted the public to appreciate the uniqueness of its character, and that needed to be reflected in the product we presented.
"We have a range of cutlery unique to this building. We have artisan jam, chocolates, teas and coffees, hot chocolate, which can all be bought to take away.
"If anyone wants to come in and talk to any of the staff, they're able to share with them the background of the building but particularly the quality of our food and other offerings."
They added: "We think it will provide a great opportunity for Dubliners to come in and take back part of their own heritage."
The building was in fact awarded Best Conservation in Britain or Ireland from the British Georgian Society in 2017.
The owners tell us: "People can come in and find out why, and if they enjoy the experience enough, they can bring part of that home with them."
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