A unique shop that has attracted customers from around the world has revealed the location of its new HQ.
York Ghost Merchants started selling its bespoke souvenir spooks on Shambles nearly three years ago.
Most days now, long queues build up along the ancient street, as customers wait for their turn to explore the beautifully decorated shop.
The Shambles shop is staying.
But York Ghost Merchants is expanding into a new HQ – at 31 St Saviourgate.
On Instagram, founders Angus McArthur and David Bloodworth said: “We have been looking for a new premises for some time and when we entered the flagstoned entrance hall of No.31 we knew that we had found the place.”
The building dates from 1735. “No.31 is a fine Georgian townhouse and like so many buildings of the period it has a fascinating history.
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“At various times it has been home to a Lady dissenter and philanthropist (who is commemorated with a Blue Plaque), an Admiral and his 13 children, a professor of music, a chaplain of The County Asylum and from 1901 to the 1956 a school for the poor of the Parish of St Crux.
“It is an honour to be able to add ‘Company Headquarters of The York Ghost Merchants’ to the fascinating history of this handsome building.”
New showroom
Work is now underway to transform the townhouse into the company HQ, where the York ghosts will be made, despatched and put on show.
“We are undertaking a scheme of sympathetic renovation and refurbishment, stripping away the incongruous evidence of 80s accountancy offices to reveal the real character of the house,” Angus and David say.
It will be used to “house the growing needs of The Ghost Merchants”, and will include a larger workshop, an internet packing and dispatch room, offices, staff room, archive and public spaces for exhibitions and gatherings.
And the ground floor will be home to an appointment / invitation-only showroom which will open later in the year.