There are some places that are more than just a shop.

For generations of people across Britain, the local corner shop was exactly that. It was where you went for a loaf of bread, a pint of milk, a newspaper, a packet of crisps or a handful of sweets. It was where kids spent their pocket money, neighbours bumped into each other and everyone seemed to know the person behind the counter.

For British people living abroad, the corner shop can be something you don't realize you miss until you see it again.

At Mason's British Market, that's a big part of what we're trying to recreate here in South Florida, that feeling of walking into a proper British shop and finding the things you remember from home.

What Exactly Is a British Corner Shop?

A British corner shop is traditionally a small neighborhood convenience store serving the local community.

But calling it a convenience store doesn't really capture what makes one special.

A proper corner shop might have everything from bread, milk and newspapers to biscuits, sweets, crisps, chocolate, tea, canned goods and fizzy drinks. Depending on the shop, you might also find frozen foods, pies, sausages, household essentials and plenty of things you didn't even realize you needed until you walked through the door.

And then there are the brands.

Walkers. Cadbury. Heinz. McVitie's. Tayto. Robinsons. Irn-Bru. PG Tips. Yorkshire Tea.

For many people, seeing those familiar names on a shelf can bring back memories instantly.

The Sweet Counter

Ask someone about their childhood corner shop memories and there's a good chance sweets will be part of the story.

British sweet shops and corner shops have an incredible variety of familiar favorites, from Drumsticks and Squashies to Chewits, Jelly Babies and chocolate bars.

The best part?

You didn't necessarily need to buy a whole bag.

A few coins from your pocket could get you a little selection of treats for the walk home.

That simple experience is something generations of British kids remember.

Crisps Were Essential

No British corner shop would be complete without crisps.

Walkers, Tayto, McCoy's, Pipers and countless other brands have made the humble crisp one of Britain's favorite snacks.

And British crisp flavors are a world of their own.

Cheese & Onion. Salt & Vinegar. Prawn Cocktail. Roast Chicken. Pickled Onion. Smoky Bacon.

Some are familiar everywhere. Others can seem wonderfully strange if you've never grown up with them.

And of course, there's always the question:

Which flavor is actually the best?

We're not getting involved in that argument.

Tea Is Serious Business

The British corner shop isn't just about snacks.

Tea is an essential part of British life, and a proper shop will usually have several varieties sitting on the shelves.

Yorkshire Tea. PG Tips. Tetley. Twinings. Taylors.

Whether you're making a cup first thing in the morning, having one with a biscuit in the afternoon or putting the kettle on when someone comes around, tea is about much more than the drink itself.

It's part of the routine.

And Then There Are the Things You Can't Easily Find in America

This is where British shops become especially important for expats.

Moving abroad doesn't necessarily mean you stop craving the foods you grew up with.

Sometimes it's something big, like proper British sausages or a favorite tea.

Other times it's something incredibly specific.

A particular chocolate bar.

A packet of crisps.

The right brand of baked beans.

That bottle of brown sauce.

A can of Irn-Bru.

Something that might seem completely ordinary to someone in Britain can become a little piece of home when you're thousands of miles away.

Bringing the Corner Shop to South Florida

That's really the idea behind Mason's British Market.

We wanted to create somewhere that British expats could walk into and immediately recognize.

Somewhere you could find the brands you remember.

Somewhere you could introduce an American friend to a proper British biscuit, crisp or chocolate bar.

Somewhere you could come in looking for one thing and leave with six things you didn't plan on buying.

Basically...

A little taste of home, right here in South Florida.

Whether you're British, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, from one of the many countries influenced by British food and culture, or simply someone who loves British treats, you're welcome at Mason's.

Because a corner shop isn't really about the four walls, the shelves or the products.

It's about how it makes you feel.

And that's what we're trying to bring to South Florida.