The 'fascinating' Dorset store that’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of nostalgia

Dorchester Curiosity Centre, based on the Grove Trading Estate, is an Aladdin’s cave full of nostalgic items, upcycled furniture, garden ware, antiques and much more.

From old football programmes to old CDs, the Dorchester store appears to have everything in its various rooms and serves as a step back in time.

Areas are rented by traders who can sell their items and the centre’s staff help sell them on behalf of the traders.

The centre’s owner, Martin Green, opened the store on October 1, 2011 and has seen the business grow in popularity over the years, with TV crews even coming to film inside.

Visitors have described Dorchester Curiosity Centre as having 'fascinating vintage and antique finds' and a place that 'never disappoints'.

'It went off with a bang on day one'

Inside Dorchester Curiosity Centre. Picture: Dorset Echo

Explaining the centre’s history, Mr Green said: “It was an idea to consolidate lots of people including people who I knew liked dabbing in trading at car boots, markets or other places.

“There was nothing like it locally. It started off in a much smaller place and it was a few months before we moved here.

“We got together when we first opened on October 1, 2011 and we had about 15 traders lined up to come in. By Christmas and December time we had around 30 traders.

“We have had up to 80 people trading in here. We’re now at about 60 traders.

“It went off with a bang on day one. We have a good steady customer base that just keeps growing.”

The name itself is unique – Mr Green didn’t want to have a ‘bland’ store name, but wanted a name that lured in shoppers, antique hunters and curious passers-by but helped summarise what the business is.

“What I didn’t want it to be called is an antiques centre because it’s not just that”, he said.

“We sell antiques, but we sell other items. We didn’t want annotations of old fashion or being bland.

“There’s nothing wrong with antiques but you can buy something here that’s a couple of years old or decades old. You could spend 50p or £500.

“It’s more than a bric-a-brac store, antique store, it’s got a café and it’s a bit of everything.”

Mr Green likened the store as being ‘part museum and part shop’ with its nostalgic items. He also believes a part of its appeal is its ethos of upcycling and reusing old items and stated he is ‘big on reusing and giving things a new lease of life’.

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Centre 'very busy' following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Dorchester Curiosity Centre has been open for nearly 10 years and has gained a loyal following. Picture: Dorset Echo

The store, which attracts people from across Dorset as well as tourists, had an ‘incredibly tough’ year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the centre has been ‘very busy’ since non-essential retail businesses reopened in April.

Mr Green added: “I think there was a pelt up desire to spend and people wanted to go out shopping.

“It’s a very different experience to shop here than click and collect online.”

The Curiosity Centre has also welcomed TV cameras through its doors, including Antiques Road Trip.

He recalled: “It was great fun to have them here – the crew and the experts. The exposure was good as they repeat the episodes now and again.

“We always have a boost after it airs. I still have people come here and they say they never knew we were here but they saw it from the episode.”

'I love it with a passion. It’s my whole life' - The secrets of the Curiosity Centre's success 

The Dorchester Curiosity Centre is a beloved and popular store in outer Dorchester

When asked about the appeal of the Curiosity Centre, Mr Green believed its charming and ‘welcoming’ atmosphere is what gives the business its popularity and appeal.

“We are nice people, we are welcoming and we talk to people but we don’t pressure people", he said. 

“If they want to buy, they can do that. We’re not sales people. We try to give people a really nice, pleasant experience.

“I like to greet people but then walk away and leave them to it. If you see them after 30 minutes, you can greet them again and check in on them.”

With its 10th anniversary looming, Mr Green has no plans ‘to do anything with it’ and is keen to continue greeting new and regular customers through his doors.

Mr Green said: “Given it’s our 10th anniversary, we always say we are very lucky with the customers we have.

“It’s about what our customers bring to us. We’re grateful for all of our business and customers, especially the regular customers and they are so satisfying and gratifying.

“I love it with a passion. It’s my whole life. It’s the hardest work I have had to do but the most fun I have had.”