Wray Village Store - Our story.

Wray village shop and Post Office closed its doors in May 2022 following the retirement of Tony and Jane Nixon. Whilst other small retail premises remained within the village, the shop lay at the very heart of the village on Main Street and had acted as  a place to exchange views, information and for those that didn’t travel, was an important social hub. Its loss was felt throughout the village. 

Four members of the village community met informally in November 2021 to discuss the implications of closure and whether we could engage the community to keep the shop open.

After gauging the village feelings via a survey delivered to the doorstep, there appeared to be significant support from the village community and surrounds. A village meeting was held in February 2022. The initial four villagers gave a presentation of the survey results and how a community could run a shop successfully. The meeting was very well attended. 

The outcome of that meeting was even more volunteers, expressions of interest in being the shop manager and a feeling that Wray had sufficient community strength to carry the project through to a successful conclusion.

A share offer raised £55,000 by October 2022. A manager was appointed and the Store was fitted out between January and March 2023. The Store opened on 18th March 2023.