In every community, there are businesses which are more than a place to buy your essentials - they're the heart of the area, where you could spend hours having a natter and leave without what you went in for.
And that's no different on the Suffolk Road in West Belfast, where a bond between a couple of shops which sit side-by-side has grown over decades. Over five spaces, you can get your hair washed and blow dried at Aisling & Co's, a beard trim at Joe's Barbers, your papers at the Spar, a chicken curry in China Style and a fish supper at Brown's.
Belfast Live spoke to some of the people who are the faces, and heart, of these businesses. They spoke proudly about their area, and more importantly, their customers.
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Arshad and Geraldine Rasool have owned the Spar on the Suffolk Road for the last 25 years and are now serving the children of children they watched grow from knee height.
"Over the last number of years we have saw a lot of change, and good change at that," Arshad
"We have been improving the environment in the business over and over again. We have a really loyal customer base and the staff are brilliant. We are more than just a shop, we are a community hub, where people come in and meet up and have a chat. This strip is brilliant, and all the businesses bounce of each other.
"It was a small shop here at first, and then we moved into a bigger shop. We are constantly changing and just moving with the times.
"We actually served the fourth generation of a local family here. That was me too old then!"
Geraldine, who is from the Falls Road, shared her love and passion for West Belfast, using the phrase "west is best" to describe her community.
"The people are just so nice, and they are the people who are never spoke about," she added.
"You always hear about the negatives and that's why I shout about how brilliant we are. The kids, they are lovely kids and they come in here and are so kind. Everybody knows one another, by first names mostly. We always have good craic and that is what it is all about.
"These people are our bread and butter, and our doors will always be open to them. They are always welcome, no matter what. We couldn't do without our customers and we just can't thank them enough for their support. If they're ever in need, we will be there to help them out as best as we can."
Next door to Arshad's shop, Gavin Brown of Brown's Chippy, has a team of hardworking men and women, with a love for food and bringing the community good quality meals.
Over the last 13 years, Brown's has also served generations of families from across West Belfast and beyond, and more recently began to bring their award winning food to the customer, with their chip van.
"We want to be there to support the community, so we got the new can so that we can go to them," Gavin Brown said.
"I grew up in West Belfast, actually just round the corner from this row of shops. We opened here 13 years ago and haven't looked back. I can remember the first week of Brown's.
"At the start, I was sceptical because people told me there was a lot of anti-social behaviour but we haven't had one issue at all, with regards to antisocial behaviour. The community supports us and the businesses support one another too.
"Brown's opens seven days a week from 6am for prep work and then we start taking orders from 8am. At the weekends it can be really busy from 8am, hangover food sometimes!
"This row is great and we all work together. You know, there is something for everyone here. This is a great location, plenty of parking and lots of space.
"The last 13 years, for us, has been amazing. We couldn't do any of this without the support of our staff and customers. In our industry, staff come and go, but we have had staff here form day one. The residents around us too, they have supported us all over the years and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for this wee row of businesses."
Joe Gatt was born and bred in Horn Drive, a stone throw away from his barber shop on the Suffolk Road. Opening in 1994, he says he hasn't looked back.
"The last 28 years has been amazing," he told Belfast Live.
"This business means everything to me, and it's all about serving the public and delivering a good service. It is a great business and industry to be in because no day is ever the same.
"We have out customers who have been with us for almost 30 years. We would have customers who first came to Joe's Barbers as children, and today they could lift me up into the chair. They're all so grown up.
"Everything changes all the time and it goes round again in circle. During coronavirus, we had to close for 10 months and when we were able to reopen, it felt like you were opening your business again for the very first time.
"There is a good atmosphere on this strip of shops and a great community feeling. It's always very busy and has a good buzz about it.
"For those people who have supported us over the years, we want to just say a big thanks to them. It is always great to see them come through our doors every couple of weeks."
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