This is a 20th century version of the original Victorian corner shop. The differences are the premises are bigger and the shop is named after the Hindu goddess, Gāyatrī who is considered the veda mata, the mother of all Vedas (knowledge). Rushmi Patel has been in this shop for 24 years and many local residents will have seen how he has expanded and updated it over that time period. Jay is more usually seen behind the counter these days and if international cricket is being played you can always catch up with the scores!
The shop seems to roll the whole high street into one. It is a newsagent, a grocers and an off-licence but they also sell warm bread and hot savouries made in their oven on the premises. They also offer to arrange dry cleaning and laundry.
They sell bus passes, phone cards, Oyster cards; have a cash machine, do photocopying and a million other things.
