The Lee Parish has always had a shop… or two… or three….
The Old Shop, the last one on Oxford St 
Holloway Stores, next to The Bugle on Oxford St 
Porretts Stores on Oxford St
That was until the end of 2004, when The Old Shop and village Post Office – the last remaining shop in Lee Common – finally closed.
“So why should people worry about not having a village shop?” I hear you say. Well, in addition to the obvious benefits of a shop that you don’t necessarily have to drive to there could, it was argued, be many other advantages to a village shop. It can be a focal point for the community; you can meet people there, perhaps have a cup of coffee and make sure you know what’s going on locally, so you won’t miss out on the gossip. Estate agents always use the presence of a shop as a selling point. A local shop will often sell local produce; imagine being able to buy all the year round those wonderful cakes, bread, jam etc. that otherwise are only available once a year at the Flower Show. And of course, there’s always something different about the service you receive at your local shop compared to a large supermarket.
So, in 2004, when the closure of the previous shop was announced, a small working group was formed, chaired by the Chairman of the Parish Council, to take forward the idea of a community-run shop, to be positioned on a site next to the Parish Hall.
In 2007, Shop at The Lee opened in temporary accommodation 
In 2008 the Parish Hall was extended to build a permanent shop… 
… and in November 2008 the new shop was formally opened by Liz Stewart-Liberty
The pictures of Porretts Stores and M. Holloway appear by permission of the Buckinghamshire County Museum.