History / Relics of newsagent’s past found as building prepares for new beginnings
A LONG established Lerwick newsagent is set for a new lease of life as an antiques shop – and some interesting items have been found as renovation gets underway.
Darren Odie has taken on the JJ Taylor premises on Commercial Road with the aim to move his existing antiques shop there from its current home at the bottom Church Road junction.
It is the end of the road for the well established newsagents, which estate agents said had been on the go for over 80 years.
Odie has found a number of items left inside the shop which have piqued the interest of locals after he put pictures on social media.
These so-called “relics” include a metal advertising sign, thought to be from the 1950s or 60s, old shop scales, a JJ Taylor paper bag and an antique safe.
He will not sell them on and instead will keep them in the building, with some of the pieces likely to go on display.
The business owner is currently in the process of ripping out all the shop fixtures, taking the walls back the original wood panelling, as well as doing general repairs.
“After this work is done then I will be filling it with antiques, collectables, vintage items – anything old and unusual,” Odie said.
“I specialise in antiquarian Shetland books, Shetland photographs by well-known Shetland photographer J.D Rattar, and often get Shetland maritime items, crofting tools like tuskars, kishies. Some are items you would normally only see in a museum.”
He has had an antiques shop in Lerwick for seven years – firstly down near the Queens Hotel before moving along the road to near Church Road.
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