penny store; small-scale business
Refers to a very small business or shop dealing in cheap goods, often with a connotation of modest or humble trade. The term is somewhat dated and may appear in historical or literary contexts.
He started out from a penny store.
Long ago, this area was lined with small-scale shops.
Compound of 一文 (one mon, a small old currency unit) and 商い (trade, business). Literally 'one-mon trade', referring to a business dealing in very cheap goods.