PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tea, crisps, biscuits and other English favorites are flying off the shelves at the English Gardener Giftshop in Camden County since Queen Elizabeth II’s death last week.
The English specialty goods store in Haddonfield has been open for more than a decade and is always busy whenever something big happens with the royal family. Owner Gary Coleman, who is originally from the United Kingdom, was overcome with emotion by the queen’s death.
"I was sad, shed a few tears,” he said. “[It’s] almost like a grandmother passing away."
Coleman said his shop stayed busy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly because people couldn't get to Europe for some time.
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Now, customers are clamoring to get their hands on flags and other collectibles with the queen pictured on it. Food and drinks are selling too, for people who may want to honor the queen with a cup of tea or a traditional meal at home.
"The only thing we have left really are some mints from the Platinum Jubilee,” he said. “We've got a few plates and things like that, but everything else just totally sold out."
Funeral arrangements for Queen Elizabeth are slated for Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey. Many world leaders are expected to attend, including President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Coleman expects a lot more business over the next few days, but he noted it's nothing like what's happening across the pond.
"It's going to be like something like no one else has seen before in the U.K.,” he said. “My cousins that live in England, we've been talking back and forth. They say it's insane."
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