Store 104

Store 104 is a calm, charming presence on Rochester High Street, rooted deeply in the Medway’s retail and creative history.

Run by the third generation of a family who have traded locally for more than 60 years, it’s a space shaped by continuity, care and community.

While some might call it a bookshop and others a concept store, Store 104 feels more like a natural extension of the High Street itself. It carries forward the spirit of the much-loved Frances Iles Art Gallery, which until 2024 sat just across the road beside the Huguenot Almshouses. Known as a place to gather for artists and locals alike, the gallery’s legacy now lives on in the form of Store 104. Reimagined but recognisable.

Housed within a listed building, the shopfront remains sympathetic to Rochester’s old-world character. Large windows offer a gentle preview of what’s inside: children’s books and greeting cards to one side; yarns, crochet and haberdashery to the other. Original tiles dating back to the 1920s (from the building’s time as a local department store) remains proudly on display on the back wall.

Inside, the space unexpectedly opens up. Gently zoned areas, stripped wooden floorboards and layered textures create a sense of comfort as you move through the shop. Wooden bookshelves are stacked with thoughtfully chosen titles for adults and children, while tables and cabinets reveal curated gifts, wrapping paper and small finds.

Towards the back, a small café offers good coffee, cakes and toasties and draws in a steady crowd popping in for a quickly hello and chat or settling in for a longer stay. Upstairs, haberdashery adds colour and softness, alongside rotating pop-up exhibitions curated by Frances Iles.

Warm, homely and unmistakably Rochester, Store 104 is the kind of place you step into to buy a book then leave with so much more and a little smile.

Discover the story behind Store 104