Despite the well-known and severe economic problems facing Dead End, which have only been accentuated by the ongoing extreme winter weather, an increasing number of brave entrepreneurs are breathing new life into old businesses across our beloved town.  These businesses seem to be emerging on an almost daily basis and this reporter was despatched across town in search of the latest resurgent enterprize…

Stepping off the bus, I immediately spot the attention-grabbing colours of ‘Chronic Therapy’, Dead End’s long-established ‘Headshop’.   Opening the door, one is immediately struck by the exotic aromas filling the air, although I’m unsure whether these are from the products on sale or the rapidly-extinguished ‘fragrant cigarette’ being brandished by the striking new owner of ‘Chronic Therapy’, Emma DeNoir.  Emma tells me she comes from Detroit and came to Dead End in search of a change of scene.  She’s been here a month now and tells me that she likes the Red Light area and that she’s found the welcome sufficiently warm that she’d like to stay in Dead End and make real her dream of creating a tiny oasis, in her own words ‘a small intimate place, somewhere a customer can feel important for a day even …and have a conversation with the odd shop owner …I guess ..a place to just take a break.  I have added a few things …so people can actually hang out  …. so you know …just relax man …go with the flow’.

The Shop sells pipes, bowls, rolling papers, hookas, candles and oils but, as the first stage of her laid-back ‘oasis’, Emma has installed simple but state-of-the-art coffee and snack machines.  Depending on customer feedback, she plans further improvements, the first of which will be more seating in the Shop’s second room and turn it into a ‘hideaway’ with suitable decorations and textures to help relax anyone who wants to spend time there.

‘Chronic Therapy’ certainly seems to have acquired a proprietor with a clear vision of where she wants to take the Headshop, while emphasizing that she wants to develop its ‘laid back’ theme in concert with her customers and their desires… Emma’s hosting a 1970’s ‘Hippie Bash’ at 4.20 pm SLT on Sunday 2 February, so break out your ‘flower power’ dresses and bell-bottomed jeans and join her there!

Annabel Westminster, DE Reporter