Shop entrance in Coronation Street
The Charity Shop operated by the Friends of Weatherfield Hospital was located at 2 Coronation Street, Weatherfield. It was the first "business" to use the shop unit since it was built in 1989 - 1990, and used the premises from February to December 1991.
Street resident Emily Bishop, who had long associations with the charity, volunteered at the shop and was essentially the manager. The shop was officially opened by Councillor Deirdre Barlow on 27th February, with some of Emily's friends donating old clothes to stock up (although in Bet Gilroy's case, Emily wondered if her anybody but her would wear her clothes!). The shop attracted mostly elderly custom, including Emily's lodger Percy Sugden who often dropped by to keep an eye on her. On 8th April, Joss Shackleton collapsed in the store after being pushed by Percy, resulting in Joss being rushed to hospital and needing a blood transfusion.
Two days before Christmas 1991, Emily was told that the lease on the shop wasn't going to be renewed, but she kept the flame alive by storing stock from the shop at No.3. After closure, the unit remained empty until Denise Osbourne bought it and opened a Hair Salon there in December 1992 - the first of many salons to operate there.