The Gartmore Village Shop is a convenience store that sells groceries, off-licence beverages, newspapers and pharmaceutical products, as well as providing post-office facilities. The community has run the shop since January 1998. The previous owners wanted to sell the property with the possibility of a residential development. However, the local people were concerned about the possible loss of the village shop and set up a committee to explore their options. A feasibility study was carried out by 8 people from the sub-committee to canvas local opinion on the community-purchase of the shop. Of the 250 adult villagers, 130 subsequently bought shares in a community co-operative.