Is there anything more perfect than finding a shop you can spend hours in?
The ability to get lost in the aisles when a well curated store throws up treasures you didn't even know you needed is one some find very rewarding. Merseyside is full of little shops of curiosity, hidden or on main high streets, collections of them on one road or spread out among the bustle of chain retailers, we have had a look at some you can go and get lost in this weekend.
From movie rental stores to witchy inspired wares, these are places loyal customers visit from miles around. But there are so many more amazing troves of interest around the region, let us and your fellow readers know about your favourite in the comments below.
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Leather Shop
The Leather Shop in the concourse at Liverpool Central station is passed by hundreds of people every day and has densely packed racks of clothing - which is also hung on the walls - along with other items such as shoes, belts, hats, gloves, and bags. Owner Saeed Baig has been involved in selling leather goods in Liverpool for the past 35 years - with just over 25 of them being at the current outlet at Central Station.
He previously told the ECHO: "We are grateful for the support we get from customers throughout the north-west, who come to us from as far afield as Bolton and Blackpool."
Go and have a look for yourself in Liverpool Central Station just off Bold Street.
Snips Movies
It is one of the UK’s last remaining independent film rental stores and has been serving Wirral since 1995. Any movie fan who steps through the door will feel like they’re in heaven, with piles of DVDs from all genres lining every inch of the store, from floor to ceiling.
Despite the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, Snips has endured due to the hard work and expertise of the staff. Owner Dave Wain spoke to the ECHO last year about the impact of the internet, he said: "For Snips, it ironically had the opposite effect. As our competition gradually began to die out, largely through first generation video shop owners using this change as the opportunity to retire, we began to attract a growing army of customers who were travelling from further afield as they still had a desire to rent movies and there were fewer places to get them from.”
And you could be one of those customers. Snips is located at 22 Cross Lane, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 3AL
The Witch House
Lark Lane has its fair share of unique and independent stores, and The Witch House at number 49 is one of them. It is a spiritual shop that offers a variety of items from crystals to candles and mini cauldrons. It also hosts workshops and stocks books on alternative wellbeing methods.
The Model Shop
There are a number of model shops in Merseyside, but how many of them have their own tearoom? The Wirral Model Shop in New Brighton is stocked with various intricate model planes, trains and ships.
But it also boasts a cafe that serves teas, sandwiches and cakes that you can enjoy should you get drawn into the difference between a two and three mast schooner.
The Wirral Model Shop is at 62 Victoria Parade, New Brighton
Allkinds
The shop at number 145 on Smithdown Road sells vinyl records, audio and sci-fi memorabilia and is owned by Brian Jackson after he took over from the original owner David Radcliffe who set up the store in the 1980s. Brian previously told the ECHO: "I originally just came in to buy some records. I came in and bought a few records and basically built up a friendship with Dave.
"I used to buy punk, and The Beatles was a main factor for me. We got chatting and before long I started coming in and doing little bits and I just became full time here."
Brian said he has loyal customers who come to the shop frequently, with some spending "hours" inside the unique store.
Remains to be Seen
Sitting at number 51 on Lark Lane, this is a treasure hunter's dream with wall to wall antiques for you to spend an afternoon in.
The Retro Room
Further down Lark Lane at number 95 is The Retro Room. Filled with vintage clothing you could easily come out with a completely new style.
News From Nowhere
The alternative bookstore on Bold Street in the city centre has been the home of Liverpool’s socialist conscience since it opened in Manchester Street in 1974 before it moved under the shadow of the bombed out church in 1989. Shelves and shelves of books are separated into categories including ‘Disability’, ‘Surviving Abuse’, ‘Ireland History and Politics’, ‘Feminism’ and ‘LGBT+’.
This store has everything you won't find in a mainstream bookshop and you could easily spend hours diving into topics you never even thought about.
Sharky's Band Merch
With more than 4,000 t-shirts, Sharky's has one for every music lover. An extensive list of bands is represented on his shelves, including AC/DC, Aerosmith, Blink-182, The Clash, Foo Fighters and Metallica.
Jon Sharky, who owns the warehouse in The Red Brick Market in the Baltic, told the ECHO: "Primarily the stock is from what I call the Rock Spectrum - anything from pop rock to some of the most extreme heavy metal. It’s mainly rock that I’m into myself and I’ve always joked that if I win the lottery, I will set up a shop that can deal with every genre."
Dolls House Specialists
The shop has been a fixture on the corner of Smithdown Road and Ullet Road for more than 20 years. And along with selling everything from modest two storey ‘starter’ homes to grand Georgian piles, Mike Booth and Deb Taylor also tend to the poorly dolls and teddy bears, not just of the people of Liverpool but from many miles beyond the city’s boundaries.
You can get almost anything to decorate your miniature home, including wedding cakes, dog beds, tiny rolling pins, pot plants and for the festive season – a Christmas tree.
69A
An Aladdin's cave of clothes, books, teapots and everything in between. 69A on Renshaw Street in the city centre is a window shopper's dream. Browse the labyrinth of trinkets and find a unique gift for a friend or even just yourself.
The business started life in 1976, initially trading from Birmingham’s Stratford House Antique Market. Owner, Trevor previously told the ECHO: “Some of our first customers in Liverpool were hairdressers, and that was very useful because they are very good at chatting and telling other people, and sending other people our way.”
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