SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Passing down Albion street today, I spotted a new stall called "The Magic Porridge Shop" selling, you guessed it, porridge!Now it struck me that this was a quirky thing to sell and led me to wonder what other unusual shops or stalls are still out there in Leeds?    

There used to be a handful of quirky stalls in the Merrion Mini-Market, although last time I was up that way it was a shadow of it's former self. I think there are designs to redevelop the area (hence the rundown), due to the current shortage of empty shop units in the city centre...Granary Wharf always used to be good for that sort of thing (my sister had a weekend stall there a few years ago selling painted glass) although I'm not sure if that has survived the redevelopment of that area.

There used to be a record shop in Otley that only sold Prince records. Inevitably it went bust, but not before a personal visit from the Purple popster. Strangely, there was a clothes shop a couple of doors up, which was once patronised by Liam Gallagher.

There is a shop in The Merrion Centre that specialises in selling clothes and equipment for belly dancers.

Steve Jones wrote: There is a shop in The Merrion Centre that specialises in selling clothes and equipment for belly dancers. Never seems to be open though. The wife covets the Egyptian god figurines in the window...

Si wrote: There used to be a record shop in Otley that only sold Prince records. Inevitably it went bust, but not before a personal visit from the Purple popster. Strangely, there was a clothes shop a couple of doors up, which was once patronised by Liam Gallagher. Cor I'd forgotten all about that shop. The Prince one that is.

Yeah, bit of a niche market. Next to it is another fairly quirky shop - a Thai takeaway. Food, I assume...

Si wrote: There used to be a record shop in Otley that only sold Prince records. Inevitably it went bust, but not before a personal visit from the Purple popster. Strangely, there was a clothes shop a couple of doors up, which was once patronised by Liam Gallagher. I went to school with the guy who had the PRINCE shop,I think he was a bit obsessive about the little fella!! He used to get himself done up to look like him,which was a bit strange but to be fair he DID look like him,not many people were wearing purple velvet cat suits in Otley at that time funnily enough(just the one actually!!)

Lilysmum wrote: Si wrote: There used to be a record shop in Otley that only sold Prince records. Inevitably it went bust, but not before a personal visit from the Purple popster. Strangely, there was a clothes shop a couple of doors up, which was once patronised by Liam Gallagher. I went to school with the guy who had the PRINCE shop,I think he was a bit obsessive about the little fella!! He used to get himself done up to look like him,which was a bit strange but to be fair he DID look like him,not many people were wearing purple velvet cat suits in Otley at that time funnily enough(just the one actually!!) Funnily enough, there's STILL not many people wearing purple velvet catsuits in Otley, Lilysmum!!! (Well, maybe occasionally round our house of a Saturday night...!)    

Si wrote: Lilysmum wrote: Si wrote: There used to be a record shop in Otley that only sold Prince records. Inevitably it went bust, but not before a personal visit from the Purple popster. Strangely, there was a clothes shop a couple of doors up, which was once patronised by Liam Gallagher. I went to school with the guy who had the PRINCE shop,I think he was a bit obsessive about the little fella!! He used to get himself done up to look like him,which was a bit strange but to be fair he DID look like him,not many people were wearing purple velvet cat suits in Otley at that time funnily enough(just the one actually!!) Funnily enough, there's STILL not many people wearing purple velvet catsuits in Otley, Lilysmum!!! (Well, maybe occasionally round our house of a Saturday night...!)     I think dressed like that in Otley you'd have to be a fast runner!!