Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Neyle-Soper Building on Water Street was, with S.O. Steele and Co, virtually the only remnant of the old Water Street shops. Many people who were involved in heritage - and many who were not - entered the shop to purchase hardware and became quite captivated by its character, by the shop fittings, the counters, the cabinets, if not by the characters of the shopkeepers themselves. And there was always a concern that the building might be lost or its distinctiveness obliterated. This became a real worry when the property was sold up a number of years ago.

Fortunately for all of us - and for the sake of the historic character of the city - Shane Kelly had the imagination to see how it might be reused and persuaded his mother, Janet, of his idea. Now this meant for her a major move - from a remarkably well-established trade in Churchill Square in a situation for which her enterprise had made her the anchor tenant. But Auntie Craešs was to move and did move and has done so with great success - a success which contributes to the remarkable rebirth of Newfoundland-owned retailing on Water Street. But it was not simply up-stakes and move in. The building required some major work because the back wall had been built up against the rock face and could at times resemble a waterfall. But they built it to keep out the wind and weather and now it houses both Auntie Craešs and Shane Kelly's photographic studio. Much of the main flooršs heritage has been preserved and - more than that - been successfully re-used but not for hardware but for food stuffs. The counters and elaborate display cases which survived the sale of the property now see trade again. They have even managed to preserve the old hand-operated freight elevator.