A VINTAGE Yves Saint Laurent three piece tweed suit, a set of Italian cocktail glasses, a seven inch vinyl single of Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ and some Levi jeans were the first unique and vintage bargains to be bagged at a new charity shop which funds the treatment of chronic and terminally ill patients in Rugby, Coventry and Warwick.
The Myton Hospices’ new charity and vintage shop has opened in the cosmopolitan Far Gosford Street in Coventry city centre.
Community Engagement Manager Olivia Bowskill and Director of Income Charlotte Ingram officially opened the new shop. (s)The charity’s Director of Income Generation Charlotte Ingram and Community Engagement Manager Olivia Bowskill did the honours with an official ribbon cutting.
The shop’s Manager and Assistant Manager, Angela Naylor and Joe Maskell, welcomed Myton staff, trustees and eager shoppers to the brand new store with macarons provided by Fargo Village’s Choc ‘n’ Roll.
The new shop is the first of its kind for Myton with a strong focus on vintage and unique items in an area of Coventry which has become renowned for its edgy vibe and businesses which stand out from the crowd.
David Dyson, Head of Retail at The Myton Hospices, said: “We’re very excited to have opened our new shop on Far Gosford Street opposite the entrance to Fargo Village, and have been thrilled with the support from people in the area who are making us feel very welcome.
“This shop is different from many of our others with a strong focus on vintage, collectable and niche items.
“We want to ask the community to bear us in mind if they have any unwanted, good quality clothing, bric-a-brac, homeware and collectibles, as everything you donate raises funds for our important work here at Myton.
“The shop opening is the first part of our ambitious plans to double the size of our current shop portfolio over the next five years.”
A selection of the unique and quirky goods available in the new shop. (s)Far Gosford Street has historically been the city’s centre for vintage and second-hand clothes shops.
Today, it is a vibrant street close to the vastly expanded Coventry University, with refurbished medieval buildings, classic pubs, and cafe and independent shops quarter ‘Fargo Village’.
The Myton Hospices charity for chronic and terminally ill patients has three hospices – in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick – and has the only inpatient units in Coventry and Warwickshire.
It recently hit the headlines when TV actress Holly Matthews movingly described the love and professional care given to her late husband, Ross Blair, son of ex-Coventry City footballer Andy Blair.
Last year, the Myton Hospices charity supported more than 1,400 people and their families, at its hospices, via its patient and family support services, or in the community through Myton at Home.
It says it has to raise £8.8 million this year to continue providing its services free of charge, and relies on donations and support from local communities.
The shop will be open seven days a week (9am-5pm Monday to Saturday; 10am-4pm on Sundays).
Angela and Joe need volunteers to help keep the shop running. Contact Charlotte Witteridge at [email protected] or visit www.mytonhospice.org/retail-volunteer to volunteer.
