Macclesfield: The Corner Plot community shop reopens
A Macclesfield community grocer has reopened their doors.
The Corner Plot is a non-profit making social enterprise, which benefits both local people and local produce.
Manager Ian Heslop is delighted to get back to the rewarding job of organising The Corner Plot's stock.
"Everybody that has come in our door this month has said 'I'm so glad you've reopened'," said Ian.
"I think people like local, fresher stuff than the supermarket."
The Park Lane store has welcomed back customers for the first time since the eve of COVID.
"The Corner Plot was started by my friends Robert and Anna Carey," Ian explained.
"They own about five houses in Macclesfield and have disabled people, people with Down's syndrome and learning difficulties who live there.
"So this space helps them have a place to come to for an activity or a place to work.
"They can operate the till, speak to customers and just to get out and about. They really enjoy it, and a couple of them haven't been for two years so when they came back, their faces lit up.
"And what's great is that most of the food we sell is local. We even grow our own rhubarb at a paddock we have.
"We also serve a selection of canned or jarred goods like organic vegan canned food, such as Happy Valley Honey from Kerridge (Bollington)."
As well as locally-grown fruit and veg (with many being from Cheshire), their dairy is from Gawsworth, and their eggs are from Congleton.
They also stock The Cheshire Cheese Company products, a world-famous Macclesfield cheesemaker based in Sutton.
Macclesfield's Fruits of the Forage also have items sold here. Ian buys most of their stock at a market near Jodrell Bank.
They even support the wider community, by selling products by small independent businesses. Such as Crag Spring Water from Wildboarclough, or Macclesfield's The Copper Mouse art and cards. The latter of which, even waives 20% of the sale price back into The Corner Plot, to help fund the people-helping non-profit.
Each small trader gets an A4 biography about them next to their products, which convinces people to purchase. New additions of non-food products you can buy at The Corner Plot includes Macclesfield's The Silktown Soap Company, and a Macc-made sunflower card with proceeds going towards Ukraine.
Since their reopening earlier this month, The Corner Plot have also deepened their relationship with South Park, which is just a two minute walk away.
As well as stocking the South American Macclesfield-roasted coffee brand Tatama that you can find at South Park, they have also teamed up with Grow Macclesfield's South Park allotment (near Busy Bees nursery), to sell some of the food grown by the community.
"How I got involved in running the shop is that I ran a party bus transport company, which had to stop due to COVID," added Ian.
"I started delivering for Tesco, but Anna approached me about working for 'Vegan Tesco's', [what she jokingly called the shop]. It was a no-brainer to make the switch, as I only live in Henbury.
"I like it here as we know most of our customers by name, as they're our neighbours.
"I had a gentleman from across the road come in the other day who wanted duck eggs, we didn't sell them but I promised him I'd get them. I got them for him, and he was over the moon with it.
"The people in pub opposite [The Last Orders] come say hello, they get their limes and lemons from here which is nice [and a plastic-free alternative to the supermarket as well]."
Volunteer Maz Dean, who lives just round the corner from The Corner Plot, also helps out.
"It is great to be back open," she said.
"Please come down and meet us, we're friendly and local with lots of good things to share."
The Corner Plot is open 9-5 Monday to Friday, with the exception of Tuesday where Ian works 11-5 due to visiting the market to stock-up.
They are also open on Saturday from 10 to half-two.
The Corner Plot is located on 119 Park Lane, Macclesfield, SK11 6UA.
You can call the shop on 07709 437797. Or message them on Facebook.
They can also be followed on Instagram.
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