Observations of a Parisian Shopkeeper

Author

Vanessa Grall
June 01, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

One year ago, Messy Nessy’s Cabinet quietly opened its doors and I embarked on one of the greatest adventures of my life. To me, this shop is a living and breathing piece of Paris, and now it’s time to celebrate its first birthday under my guardianship. But it wouldn’t mean a thing without you.

If you’re in Paris next Saturday June 7th, come on by for our Fête de la Boutique. We’ll be celebrating all day with a few of my neighbours you might already know. There will be a prize raffle and other festive treats for our Parisian street party. Hope you can make it! (More details in the flyer at the end of the email).

In the meantime, how can I sum up 12 months of shop life? I’m sure there’s a book in me somewhere down the line about my unexpected life as a Parisian shopkeeper, but for now, I thought I’d share some of the observations that have been scribbled into my scrapbook…

  • Suspected encounters with the shop’s friendly ghost: 13

  • Overheard declarations of love for the Paris People Watching Club: A daily average of 8

  • Oscar-winners that purchased something: 1 Best Actress

  • Furry or feathered customers: 32 dogs, 2 cats (1 on a leash), 1 unaccompanied pigeon and 8 bumblebees (we figure they like the scarves).

  • Age of youngest customer: 7 years old (bought a vintage alarm clock made in the USSR).

  • Number of requests to smell the ‘Eau de Seine’, having mistaking it for perfume: enough times for us to seriously wonder whether we should explore the idea. (It’s still on ice).

  • Calories burned successfully retrieving a shoplifted vintage Yves Saint Laurent necklace: 97 calories

  • Upper body workouts thanks to window display changeovers: 8.

  • Estimated passing tourists converted into artful travellers: Busloads.

  • Enquiries about the shop’s playlist (or for the name of the song playing): 56

  • Notable authors pleasantly surprised to stumble upon their book in the shop: 4

  • Paris Writers & Readers Club gatherings that left our hearts full: 8 salons (and our latest salon with Elaine Sciolino is now available to re-watch in the Keyholder Vault).

  • Hours spent finding the ‘perfect spot’ for a new curiosity on the shop floor: roughly 365, give or take

  • Hours spent gossiping with neighbours about the goings on of Rue de Bièvre: 365, give or take.

  • Longest distance travelled to visit the shop: 18,942 km (the loveliest customers from New Zealand)

  • Kilometres of bubble wrap used to wrap our fragile treasures: Appoximately 1.2

  • Books I signed for customers that made me cry happy tears: 9 

  • Customers that made our day: Lost count

  • Regrets on opening a shop: Zero

From the bottom of my (happily cluttered) heart, thank you for supporting and sharing Messy Nessy’s Cabinet this past year. And now, back to your regularly scheduled weekend conversation starters…

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