Hollywood Dairy

It’s a hard road smoking cigarettes these days. You can’t even see what your buying, let alone choose between a range of different prices. Hollywood Dairy used to have an impressive behind counter display of tobacco and cigars, but now it is all covered up with a blank wall of metal. I’m sure the lack of the tempting display possibly does stop kids wanting to try smoking, but it really is annoying not being able to browse. However, Hollywood Dairy understand. The owner knows what a kick to the pocket buying them is, and always updates me on which one is the cheapest. They also sell … pretty much everything. It used to be a post office, so they have all that kind of stuff under wraps, as well as the usual dairy supplies.

I believe Hollywood Dairy used to be a full post office, but now it’s a dairy that has a little section for post office things. I’ve only ever come here to buy dairy related thingees, not post office things. They have a good as ice cream selection and when I was having dinner the other week on dirty Dominion we decided to get ice cream afterwards to take over to the park, because summer was still poking her pretty head out, and Hollywood Dairy was the obvious choice. They have three ice cream fridges so there’s plenty to choose from, it always feels like they have a way better selection than other dairies. They have all the other normal dairy things too, milk and drinks and tea and chips and gum and all those other good things. The man behind the counter is super friendly and they always greet you with a big hello when you walk in, which I like.

The Hollywood Dairy has been part of Balmoral’s culture for as long as I can remember. A family-​run business, this is a really well-​stocked and organised convenience store that is guaranteed to have the latest new ice block/​chocolate bar the kids want to try.
You can also get your usual stuff — bread, milk, even butter and sour cream, and the freezer is well stocked with a range of gourmet frozen foods.
Down the back of the shop is a fully functional post shop that also sells a good range of stationery and office supplies. The best thing about the Hollywood dairy is its community feel — you are guaranteed a friendly face and warm greeting every time you visit.

The Hollywood Dairy is a dairy, but also a post shop. Or it has a post shop counter in it, or something. It’s a bit confusing. However it works, you can buy an ice-​cream and some courier bags at the same shop, and that’s nothing to complain about. The people who work here are lovely. Here’s an example to prove it:
One time I went to the Hollywood Dairy to buy some staples. I assumed the between the dairy bit and the post shop bit, they’d be sure to have some. I searched at length, but couldn’t see them anywhere. The guy behind the post counter asked what I was looking for, and when I told him he said they’d totally sold out of staples and wouldn’t have any until tomorrow.
«But here,» he said, «these should keep you going in the meantime.» And he took a handful of staples out of his own stapler and gave them to me. This is why Hollywood Dairy is lovely, and why I like to buy things there whenever possible (although I’m still going with the staples he gave me, so I haven’t had to buy any of them yet. But I will, when the time comes).