Those serendipitous encounters revealed to Bailey that housebound shoppers are now more keen to cook, she said.
"During lockdown, a lot more people are cooking meals for themselves," Bailey said. "They are so happy to be able to provide a British accent with their meals. Our ingredients can make for very rich, full and flavorful family suppers and lockdown lunches."
As a 28-year veteran of the Grapevine business community, Bailey said she has personally seen generations grow up.
"We've seen their children grow up, and now, those children are bringing their own kids in for a taste of home," she said. "We think is lovely, and they love the fact that it is a true corner store in every sense of the word."
The grocery store was deemed an essential business in early statewide COVID-19-related executive orders. But despite being able to remain open, Bailey said she has recently seen the effects of the pandemic in her suppliers.
"We are unique in that our supply chain stretches all the way across the Atlantic," she said. "We have found that some of our lines are getting harder to source than others."
Grocery items at British Emporium include canned goods; ingredients for dishes, like bangers and mash and shepherd's pie; cookies; chips and more.
"If you were a Texan stuck in London, what would you miss?" she asked. "What we're providing is a cross-section of everything that an expat would miss."
British Emporium
140 N. Main St., Grapevine
817-421-2311
www.british-emporium.com
