Brixton chitter chatter, part 2

[malice]

Does anyone know if Granville arcade is open today? I know it used to be always shut on Sundays, but was there some talk of them opening on sundays?

 

[han]

All the shops down there are really struggling. Before they sold the greengrocer's, Julie's son in law told me that business had totally dried up. He blamed a couple of things such as the Tescos and Sainsbury's nearby (apparently the latter had a deal to fix some road with the council when they were building the shop and while they were doing this, they also put up a bus stop outside their shop for which there was no plan. This meant that all the foot traffic that used to get off and walk down the little passage next to the Telegraph and shop on NPR was lost to Sainsbury's). He also said the population in the area had become too transient, which affected their building up of a customer base.

Gosh, I didn't know that. I didn't realise they'd sold partly due to business drying up. What a shame. I don't think the shop as it exists now is going to last - it's dead as a dodo most of the time. End of an era, really.

Looks like people round our parts are going to have no choice but go to Sainsbury's and Tesco's now

Yeah, I saw the 'for sale' sign up in the Spoon window. TBH I'm not at all surprised - it's the wrong kind of shop for the area - it would've done much better somewhere like Herne Hill or Clapham, where people can afford to pay £3 for a loaf of bread

 

[nagapie]

I moved from near NPR about 3 months ago. I'd lived there for about 8 years and it's certainly got much quieter, even in the last year. I'm surprised they could even sell the greengrocers, the new owner has something to do with Bombay Inn. I'd imagine they have less good fruit and veg as they can't afford to buy more when they're not selling what they've got.

Spoon also did quite well there for a while. One of the reasons Nell set up there was Lawrence and his passion for fruit and veg. Her client base in the area has also been hit quite badly by the recession as apparently there were lots of public sector workers.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

All the shops down there are really struggling. Before they sold the greengrocer's, Julie's son in law told me that business had totally dried up. He blamed a couple of things such as the Tescos and Sainsbury's nearby (apparently the latter had a deal to fix some road with the council when they were building the shop and while they were doing this, they also put up a bus stop outside their shop for which there was no plan. This meant that all the foot traffic that used to get off and walk down the little passage next to the Telegraph and shop on NPR was lost to Sainsbury's). He also said the population in the area had become too transient, which affected their building up of a customer base.

That's a shame, but I think it was obvious the Sainsbury's would impact on custom and then opening a Tesco at the top end didn't help any. That's a bit dirty what Sainsbury's did, but hardly surprising. Who controls where bus stops are, TFL or Lambeth?

 

[nagapie]

That's a shame, but I think it was obvious the Sainsbury's would impact on custom and then opening a Tesco at the top end didn't help any. That's a bit dirty what Sainsbury's did, but hardly surprising. Who controls where bus stops are, TFL or Lambeth?

Apparently they had a deal with the council but it didn't include the bus stop. But naturally the council didn't care or do anything when it was put there.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Apparently they had a deal with the council but it didn't include the bus stop. But naturally the council didn't care or do anything when it was put there.

Sounds about right for Lambeth

 

[Laughing Toad]

Apparently they had a deal with the council but it didn't include the bus stop. But naturally the council didn't care or do anything when it was put there.

TfL decide where bus stops go, not Lambeth.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

TfL decide where bus stops go, not Lambeth.

that's what I thought

 

[Mrs Magpie]

My local bus stop has the name of a street that doesn't exist! I blame Lambeth for that one, not TfL.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

My local bus stop has the name of a street that doesn't exist! I blame Lambeth for that one, not TfL.

Really. What's that then?

 

[gaijingirl]

Rumour is a Starbucks is opening up in one of the new railway arches in Herne Hill. It's not clear if it's the one that Dust is vacating or not.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Really. What's that then?

Hollybush Walk. There is no Hollybush Walk. There was, well over ten years ago. It's the same reason satnav falls over in my area (Moorlands Estate).

eta, the bus stop is much more recent than the name changes.

 

[paolo]

Is it me, or has northbound Blenheim Gardens had it's indicator removed? Fairly sure it had one, but now there's a plate covering.

 

[Orang Utan]

what do you mean?

 

[paolo]

The indicators that have minutes to wait on them. Bus numbers, with minutes. I like.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is it me, or has northbound Blenheim Gardens had it's indicator removed? Fairly sure it had one, but now there's a plate covering.

Definitely had one

Northbound? That's going into central London isn't it? Yeah yeah, I know

 

[miss minnie]

Is it me, or has northbound Blenheim Gardens had it's indicator removed? Fairly sure it had one, but now there's a plate covering.

The one at the northbound stop Brixton Road / Villa Road has been removed in the past few weeks also. Haven't checked the southbound one. At first I though perhaps vandalism, but looking more like it was deliberately uninstalled.

 

[paolo]

Definitely had one

Northbound? That's going into central London isn't it? Yeah yeah, I know

No, no, you're right. I mean left.

Facepalm myself. I meant Southbound. I'm doing "up the hill means north". Probably why I was never picked for Orienteering. (Or any sport at all)

 

[Orang Utan]

i do that too paolo - up IS north!

 

[paolo]

The one at the northbound stop Brixton Road / Villa Road has been removed in the past few weeks also. Haven't checked the southbound one. At first I though perhaps vandalism, but looking more like it was deliberately uninstalled.

"Vandalism" is wonderfully generic excuse.

I wonder if I can get off work tomorrow. "Yeah, would be in, but... vandalism... Yeah, I know... See you tomorrow... with any luck!"

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

No, no, you're right. I mean left.

Facepalm myself. I meant Southbound. I'm doing "up the hill means north". Probably why I was never picked for Orienteering. (Or any sport at all)

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about but tarannau (or it may have been Kanda or teuchter) was always pulling me for my wrong directions

As far as I'm concerned, the Hill goes up and up is North

 

[paolo]

Streatham is, as far as I'm concerned, cloggs and whippets. The soundscape is Dream Academy's epic Life in a Northen Town.

They've probably got a windmill and everything.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

They've probably got a windmill and everything.

Trying to copy Brixton Hill. It's them that's probably nicked the sails off our windmill

 

[paolo]

Trying to copy Brixton Hill. It's them that's probably nicked the sails off our windmill

I wish they'd nick our chicken shops. There is a correct number of chicken shops. Our number is incorrect.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I wish they'd nick our chicken shops. There is a correct number of chicken shops. Our number is incorrect.

I agree. I wonder how many Streatham have. Brixton Hill is only short. Streatham is the longest high street in the country. I'm sure it could do with more

 

[Pip]

Streatham is hte longest high street in the country.

Is it?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is it?

Yes

In fact, I think it's the longest in Europe

and there's barely a typical high street shop, save WH Smiths, the normal supermarkets and erm... (I was going to say Clarks shoes, but even that's gone).

erm... let me think

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is it?

Does your mother tell you nothing?

 

[Orang Utan]

speaking of streatham, this looks lush:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/16/jay-rayner-lahore-kebab-house
i'm surprised i didn't know about it til it was in the paper.
anyone been?

 

[Orang Utan]

Does your mother tell you nothing?

you don't listen to your mum!