Step back in time to 1877 – as new York shop is bringing the gothic Victorian era to life.
We reported back in March that the experience-led gift shop was coming soon, and it opened its doors last weekend – and is already proving to be a hit.
The Gothelie Station is the latest addition to Goodramgate, housed in the Grade II listed building that was previously home to the charity shop Mind.
YorkMix chatted with The Gothelie Station founder and owner Viki Papadopoulou to find out more about the unique shop and people’s reaction so far.
Viki moved to York from Greece with her husband seven years ago and since then has worked in several different retail shops in the city centre.
“I said at some point, I want to have my own place,” Viki told YorkMix. “I’m a creative person and I wanted to express all this creativity in one place.
“I love storytelling and I wanted to create something and link it to York’s history. I love York, and I wouldn’t open this shop somewhere else.”
Viki created the fictional character of Gothelie, whose story starts with the true fact that the first train that departed from York’s, then, new railway station on 25 June 1877 at 5:30pm. The train was heading to Scarborough and Gothelie “took that train to follow her dreams and travel all around the world to meet new people and see new places.”
Viki encourages visitors to the shop to continue Gothelie’s dream by taking a picture of anything they purchase when they get home and posting it on social media with the hashtag #GothelieWasHere – “It’s like they carry a part of her story and that Gothelie’s travelled to that place as well.”
The Gothelie Station is meant to resemble a Victorian station, and features a ticket office, train platform and Victorian train carriage.
“I want people to feel like they’ve stepped into a different era,” said Viki. “Gothic vibes, steampunk aesthetic and the Victorian era are things that I’m very interested in.”
The train carriage section of the shop has proved particularly popular. “I think it’s their favourite area of the shop because they all take photos in the carriage.”
As well as custom-built set pieces in the shop, it’s been a “long process” of Viki and her husband collecting decor and furniture for the shop from auctions and antique shops around the UK. “I wanted mainly to have furniture from that era.
“We took care of every detail in here, and it’s good that people can see that. The feedback is amazing, and beyond what I was expecting.
“People can see how much effort we’ve put in to build this concept. I’m very happy.”
Before they opened, The Gothelie Station went viral on TikTok which was a “surprise”.
“It looks like people are very interested in this kind of shop. There were so many replies underneath saying they want to visit the shop and that they’re coming soon.”
Viki hopes that it will become a ‘destination’ shop that people will travel specifically to York for. “I would love to see people from all around the world posting photos of the items that they get here.”
There is a wide variety of products on offer at the shop, that Viki has curated to reflect the Gothic or Victorian vibe. There’s everything from jewellery, to books, to decoration items, and customised York souvenir gift items.
Though the shop has only just opened, there are already potential ideas in the works to elevate the experience even further – such as a trail around the shop for children, and a private afternoon tea offering in the train carriage. Watch this space for further details.
Viki is passionate about York’s rich railway history and hopes that tourists and locals alike can learn a bit more about it from the facts that are dotted around the shop.
“What I want to do with the shop is to actually flag the fact that the train station we have in York that opened back in 1877 was a huge thing for the city – and how at the time, it was the biggest in the world.”
To stay up to date with The Gothelie Station, visit their Instagram, TikTok and Facebook pages.
The Gothelie Station is open seven days a week, 10am to 6pm.
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