A new hardware/homeware shop has opened its doors in St. George's, reports Scott Neil, giving the people in the town and the eastern parishes an alternative to travelling to Hamilton for things like furniture and furnishings, boat supplies and other odds and ends to furnish their homes.

Ace Homeware store is located in the main town square next to the former tourist office.

It has been an ambition of Judy Jones to run a shop for many years. She saw a clear gap in the market for a homeware outlet following the closure of a dedicated homeware store in Water Street many years ago.

"We have had nothing like that in St. George's for many years. We had a small homeware store called the Rolling Pin at Tiger Bay but that did not last long," said Mrs Jones.

It was her family that urged her to take the next step to realising her ambition of running a shop, and her daughter Mackeesha will be the buyer and accountant of the operation, while Mrs Jones' husband Milton, who runs the Ace Installers carpet laying firm, and son will provide the muscle for furniture deliveries. The shop will sell furniture ordered through a catalogue, and also marine and boat supplies such as polish and restorer and household items including drapes, curtains, towels, bed ware and rugs.

"I do feel it is going to be very successful. We want to keep people in St. George's shopping and encourage others from outside to come here," she explained. "There was nothing in St. George's like it, and that gave me the incentive."

The sight of older people struggling with bags as they shop around town was another reason that Mrs Jones wanted to open up a homeware shop in a central location. The new shop is in a prime location on the square, easily accessible to locals and visitors alike.

Mrs Jones, an office manager for a chartered accountant firm, said: "I'm trying to cater to all levels of people with pricing. We are taking orders and going overseas to purchase stock."