When you’re wandering around Manchester this Christmas wondering where on earth to find that perfect half human skeleton of a woman for your other half then there’s only one place for it.
Empire Exchange is one of Manchester’s last real niche shops, an emporium of glorious junk that looks like the basement of a relatively wealthy eccentric pensioner.
Its façade is known to all: that weird green shop on Newton street blasting 60s’ and 70s’ Motown out music with an array of mismatched items in its window.
MM venture into the depths of the cave of wonder to see what you can get if you fancy something a little different for Christmas this year.
If you follow the familiar sounds of Gladys Knight or The Supremes, you will find yourself walking towards the unusual looking shop window.
In it, vintage guitars are perched in front of an old mountain bike, football kits from Manchester United and City are hung alongside posters of Japanese cartoons and classic boxing matches. Life size models of Batman and Starship Troopers stand side by side looking out past boxes of books and VHS videos.
This is Empire Exchange, an Aladdin’s Cave of niche market items and hidden gems.
At first glance it seems as though the entire shop contents must be stuffed in the front windows; it is difficult to get your head around the variety of goods displayed.
If you are brave enough to enter however, you will be led down a set of stairs to a basement filled overwhelmingly with anything and everything.
Paul Herstell is the shop manager and explains how, for 15 years, the shop has catered for the city’s creative and collectable types.
“Whatever you are looking for you will find it here.” He says. “From vintage vinyls to football programmes, telephones to toys, we have everything.”
It is difficult to disagree. Looking around the store you get the feeling that a lot of the stuff is unwanted, unnecessary or simply forgotten.
But that is part of the charm.
“We attract all kinds of people because we sell all kinds of things. The music outside attracts people; 70s and Motown seem to appeal to most,” Paul told MM
The classic sounds outside may be enough to lead you to browsing inside the Exchange. But if it does not? Does it have anything to tempt Christmas shoppers with a purchase they simply can’t say no to?
“We once sold half a human skeleton a few years ago. She was a woman,” Paul says.
“At the moment we have a signed Robin Van Persie shirt for sale. We got it from United’s training ground. There is no price yet as no one has made us an offer so far.”
And what about for the sci-fi types?
“There is a giant Star Wars Naboo Starfighter model.”
This is only scratching the surface of alternative gifts on sale.
At the shop desk a glass cabinet filled with vintage telephones and toy cars stands proud, while nearby a rack of denim jackets and 90s football shirts awaits you. Among the books and posters, it is difficult to ignore an array of ‘lads mags’ and, to be subtle, magazines for the adult audience.
The unique nature of the shop has made it a popular haunt of celebrities, particularly musicians and comedians who seem to love its novelty as Paul explains:
“We’ve had Alice Cooper buy a belt buckle to wear on tour, Dylan Moran came in and bought a load of comics. Mick Jones, Ian Brown and Debbie Harry have been in as well.”
“Stephen Merchant came in but didn’t buy anything.”
With such an array of glorious junk on sale Empire Exchange deserves a place amongst Christmas Shoppers thoughts.
If you want to get something more interesting than gift sets and socks for your loved ones this year, this might just be the place to go.
The Alternative Christmas List – Top 5 gift ideas from Empire Exchange:
- 60s Motown vinyls (as heard outside the store)
- Past football annuals, matchday programmes
- Collectable cars and trains (featured in many classic TV programmes)
- Giant size Naboo Starfighter model (as seen in the Star Wars franchise)
- Signed Robin Van-Persie Manchester United jersey (price open to offers
Empire Exchange is located in Manchester’s Northern Quarter at 1 Newton Street Opening times: Mon-Sun 9:00-19:30 Tel: 0161 236 4445
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