Ali N Arts

Our little place is right opposite the Hockey Club in Richmond Town. It’s at 14/2, and if you know the main market area, you’ve probably walked past us a dozen times without thinking much of it. We deal with art stuff, mostly frames and some supplies for the local students who go to the schools nearby. The shop is quite narrow, and the walls are covered from floor to ceiling with different wood samples and some old prints we’ve had for ages. It gets a bit dark in the back, but that’s where the work happens. I spend most of my time measuring glass and cutting boards to size. It’s dusty work, and my hands are usually stained with some kind of ink or glue. When there’s a game at the hockey club, the whole street gets crowded, and we just sit and listen to the cheering. We aren't big on advertising or having a fancy website. Most people find us because their parents came here years ago. We don't rush the work; if a frame needs an extra day to dry properly, that's just how it is. Sometimes I forget to tidy up the front, so there are scraps of paper and wood everywhere. It’s just how a workshop should look, I think. We like the quiet rhythm of this neighborhood. It’s been our home for a long time, and we don't plan on changing much. We stay open until the sun goes down.