Family business Thingummys reopens in Chester
A long-established family business that traded in Chester for more than three decades has returned to the city centre.
Thingummys, founded in Liverpool in 1966 by Alan and Susan Brown, reopened in late November on St Werburgh Street.
The original Chester shop was based on Watergate Street before moving to Rufus Court in 1992, trading there as Indesign until 1999. Known for its mix of furniture, fabrics and what the Browns described as “thingummyjigs”, the store became well known for designer and artisanal homeware including Arabia Ruska dinnerware and furniture by Bertoia, Kartell and Alvar Aalto.
It also stocked enamelware from Finland, printed metalware from Dodo Designs and later showcased the bespoke work of Tim Stead, the sculptor and furniture maker originally from Helsby.
The revived shop is run by ceramic artist Kirsti Brown, her brother Thor Brown and Kirsti’s husband Cassian Wheeler.
They have opened in the former Lily Vintage unit, close to Chester Cathedral, and are focusing on handmade pieces by UK makers.
Several are based in Cheshire, the North West and North Wales, including ceramics by Kate Smallwood from Chester, Jane Williams from Eryri and work by Kirsti herself.
Other lines include 3D printed vessels by Keeley Traae from North Staffordshire and printed homewares by Dom Marshall.
Early customer favourites include handmade wooden spoons and homewares by Beamers Designs from Herefordshire, paper mache birds by Tania Holland Gallery in the West Midlands and animal-themed cards by Ellwood Parker from North Lancashire.
The owners plan to open the upper floor of the shop as an exhibition space in 2026.
Kirsti and Thor said “This is something that we’ve felt we wanted to do for a long time now. And now that it’s happened, it’s really exciting!”
Kirsti added “As a maker myself, I want to support makers and small businesses in helping to enable them in making a living from their skills and crafts. It’s nice that the three of us, myself, Thor and Cassian, can work together to bring the spirit of our parents’ shop and its history back to Chester.”
Cassian Wheeler said “I’m so pleased to be part of continuing the Thingummys story. Although we’ve only been open for a short time so far, it’s been wonderful to meet and talk to our customers, both those local to Chester and to visitors, and to share the stories with them of both Thingummys and of the things that we are selling. And it’s curious to think that, despite it being so ‘new’, next year will mark the 60th birthday of Thingummys!”
Thingummys is open seven days a week. Hours are Monday to Wednesday 11am to 4pm, Thursday and Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
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