Rye Harbour Stores has become “a community-based convenience store”: that is the mission of its owners and is at the heart of what they do. It’s where neighbours meet, chat, and catch up on local news. For many, especially older residents, it’s a lifeline against loneliness.
The owners Arun and Chantelle are great supporters of the villagers in the Harbour and listen carefully to their requests about what they would like to see in the shop.
The shop stocks goods from nearby farms, bakers and makers, keeping money circulating within the local economy. Subash and Karthik, who manage the store, greet the locals as friends and everyone stops to exchange news.
To celebrate the shop being open for two years, on Saturday 8 November, Arun and his family threw a party in the village hall. Arun cooked amazing curries and everyone had a great time. His children helped serve and his wife Chantelle, always smiling, made sure the evening went smoothly. There was even a free raffle, such is their generosity.
It is really important in these tough economic times to support this community-minded family and shop as much as possible to keep it afloat. If you visit the Harbour to walk your dogs, pop in and you will be amazed at the variety of their goods. Support local, please: we don’t want to lose the shop.
