NORTON is the small town with lots of character.
As you come into the town and join Commercial Street, Just Barbering meets you.
The barber’s motorcycle window display catches your eye and upon entering, owner, Emma-Lea Stone, provides a warm welcome.
Emma-Lea has had the store for almost four years.
A community feel
“I think the community is quite nice,” she said.
“Everyone that has a shop down here – we’re all friends, we all help each other out.”
“We have got lots of lovely customers, that all live locally.”
In around one week Emma-Lea plans to move up the road to number seven into a larger unit – which will also include a small lady’s section.
“I like (Norton) so much, I am moving two doors down to a bigger shop.”
She waves at passers-by and tells me: “Everyone waves as they go past.
“I try to be fun and not be serious.
“Life is serious. When you get your hair cut it is nice to have a laugh.”
This community feel continues over the road at W. Fletcher & Sons Butchers.
The butcher has been in the family for over 60 years – it was also a butchers before then too.
It stocks the finest local meats and freshly baked pies.
Peter Hogg from the shop, said customers have been coming to the shop all his life and over that time the staff have grown to know them well.
Still today, he said there is “a reasonable amount of community spirit”.
Huge offering
Continuing along Commercial Street, a mix of shops greet you on both sides.
One of these is Norton Hardware Store.
The shop sits next door to dog groomers, Nose 2 Tail Grooming, and has been in the town since the 1880s.
Owners, Sam and Dean Cross, said it has been a hardware store for the last 24 years.
After finding a new bathroom light for a customer, Sam said: “I think (Norton) is brilliant.
“It’s a lovely town.
“Our customers are awesome.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Over the road is the Trophy & Print Shop, which has been supplying trophies, medals and awards to the people of Norton for over 20 years.
The street is also home to The Tailor from Damascus.
Ammar Jokhandor, started the business in the town last March (2022) after taking over from its previous owner.
Before this, he had been a tailor for 27 years in Syria - where he is from.
Ammar arrived in Ryedale in 2017, and in doing so worked for three years at Ashley Cooke Carpets and Furniture in Malton, volunteered at a charity shop in the town and, with the help of the Refugee Council, found a job with a tailor in York for six months.
Despite his wide range of experience working as a tailor he described the new venture, as a “little bit scary”.
Now, however, he said: “I am happy – it is going well.”
Ammar explained that the launch of the shop’s Facebook page has helped to tell people about the business, and he has seen an increase in customers since.
He credited his fondness of Norton, to its people – describing them as “nice” and “smiley”.
Town staples
A staple in the town sits next door in the form of family butcher, Nesfield & Percy Butcher.
The butcher has been in Norton since 1901 and has been run by the current family for around six years.
Darren Nesfield, from the butcher, said the shop has been busy since taking it over and the customers are “very good”.
It has a wide offering of meats and pies, which proved a hit with scores of customers filling the shop when we visited on a Wednesday morning.
“We like to keep our staff and customers happy,” said Darren.
The shop is keen to inspire the next generation of butchers and has taken on a trainee, Georgie, who also attends college as part of the scheme.
Walking further along the road international supermarket, Malinka Market, stops you.
Inside is a huge offering of Polish, Romanian, and Turkish food and drinks.
Another international market, Kubus, can be found further along Commercial Street which also stocks a wide selection.
Across from Malinka Market is The Union Inn.
The inn has been in the same spot since the 1800s and is now run by landlady, Chloe.
Chloe has worked at the pub for the past seven months.
She said: “I love it - all the customer are really nice. Honestly, I think I am friends with everyone that comes in. “
The landlady added that she liked that the pub was dog friendly, and often takes her dog, Milly, in with her.
“Customers love it.”
Speaking about Norton, she said: “It’s a bit quieter than Malton, which means that people make the effort to come down.
“It means you get to know your locals better, because they’re coming all the time.”
At the Gazette & Herald, we have partnered with Ryedale District Council to encourage our readers to shop locally wherever they can.
READ NEXT: Malton: 'Yorkshire's Food Capital' that champions independent business
We are shining a spotlight on Ryedale’s market towns showcasing the wide range of independent businesses and their offerings across the district.
Do you want to advertise your business in next week’s feature looking at Pickering? Email alex.calman@localiq.co.uk for more details.
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