IF you’ve ever wandered into Molong Stores, you’ll know it isn’t quite your average country store.
Inside you’ll find a huge array of hats, belts, bags, walking sticks, socks, caps and all manner of carefully chosen bits and pieces filling the shelves, while proprietor Robbie Carroll holds court from behind the counter.
On 19 September, Molong Stores celebrated its fifth anniversary, marking half a decade for Robbie Carroll’s Bank Street enterprise.
“It’s been a wild ride,” he said.
It’s hardly an exaggeration, given that Carroll launched the business amidst the pandemic, a time when face masks, mandatory check-ins, and public health restrictions became a daily reality.
To adapt, Carroll even commissioned custom masks branded with “Molong” to offer to local shoppers.
“They were quite fun to sell,” he said.
Subsequent flooding saw water reach the premises twice within weeks before inundating the store, an experience Carroll described as deeply unsettling, yet one that demonstrated the remarkable community support that has helped to sustain the business.
“The whole town came together and the surrounding areas and everyone was really supportive, mentally and financially,” he said.
“As negative as the flood was, it helped to put Molong on the map, so there’s some growth that’s come out of it.”
Understanding that local community connection was essential to the business, Carroll prioritised gaining a true sense of the area before launching.
To achieve this, he chose to live in Molong for a year prior to launching, making a conscious effort to connect with residents throughout the town.
“I didn’t want to be some jump-up start from Sydney opening a shop in a town,” he said.
“I wanted them to know who I was, what my vision was, and that I’m here to not gentrify the town, to just make it a little bit better, make it a little bit prettier.”
Rather than merely running a commercial operation, Carroll said he views Molong Stores as an avenue for active community engagement.
He expressed equal dedication to advocating for the broader region, emphasising his commitment to building momentum for Molong as a whole rather than focusing solely on his own storefront.
“I like to get some energy around Molong, not just the shop,” he said. “It’s all the other businesses and people here, too.”
A milliner by training, Carroll spent two years studying the craft in Sydney and another year in London before working in the urban fashion and millinery industry for roughly three decades.
Although he said he has not crafted a hat himself in about 25 years, his passion for sourcing and retail remains as strong as ever.
Five years after opening, his unique background allows Molong Stores to stand apart from traditional rural retail offerings.
“I sell what I love,” he said. “If I love something, I can sell it quite easily.”
That philosophy extends across his entire inventory.
Carroll said he has a particular affinity for accessories, filling his shelves with everything from belts, bags, socks, and caps to walking sticks, as well as an expanding line of Molong-branded merchandise such as keychains, patches, stickers, and hats celebrating the town.
He said he is always open to collaborating with local artisans whose work might complement Molong Stores, subject to one key criterion.
“I have to like the product,” he said. “If I don’t like the product, I’m not interested, so it has to be high quality.”
Though the shop possesses a distinctive aesthetic, Carroll said he views it chiefly as a men’s store, a niche he said he is eager to preserve given the scarcity of similar businesses across the region.
Nevertheless, his passion for striking and unique accessories ensures that every visitor finds something of interest, regardless of what initially drew them inside.
The shifting financial landscape and cost-of-living pressure on his customers have also influenced his retail strategy, leading people to be far more mindful of their spending.
Carroll said he prefers shoppers to purchase a modest item, or nothing at all, rather than feel obligated to part with funds they cannot spare.
“I don’t want them to buy something from me if they can’t afford it,” he said. “I’d rather them spend nothing or spend little.”
Rather than a conventional commercial venture focused on profits, Carrol said he views Molong Stores as a lifestyle business that supports the way he wants to live.
“I’m never going to get rich from having a shop ever,” he said. “But I make enough money to survive and that’s all I’m interested in.”