What would you like to see on SGR?
  • Tallboy
    What sort of shop/restaurant/commercial outlet - that we don't already have - would you like to see on SGR and its very close borders.
    I'd like to have a gym. Preferably one that is prohibitively expensive to keep all the meatheads away. But that'll never happen.
  • JungleFaceJake
    McDonalds
    KFC
    Starbucks
    99p Store
    Another Nandos
    Cash Convertors
    Topshop

    Oh and somewhere to get a nice organic, locally sourced Lentil soup and roll... MMM...
  • ActionVerb
    I'd second the gym, the ones round work are far too expensive and there aren't any leisure centres which are particularly handy on the route home from work.

    A good butcher and a bakery would be nice. Has anyone used the butcher half way down SGR?
  • Tallboy
    No. But I have used the butcher over the top of SGR, opposite the Old Dairy and next to the paper shop. Buy my bacon there. Made me realise how rubbish supermarket bacon is.
  • staplejack
    Finsbury Park, by the running track
    Sobell Centre
    Factory

    Plus Rowans (I think), Virgin and YMCA in Crouch End. And the gym at Park Road swimming pool if you want to swim after.

    I make that 7. Which, is 7 too many in my book. My vote for a new shop would be for a recording studio / practice rooms venue.

    Guess where I went during P.E. at school?
  • Ali

    That is Tony the butcher. His eggs are very good, huge and well priced compared to Tescos etc. Most of them seem to have double yolks . His Christmas turkey was very good and his chickens which we have quite often.

  • Billy Bookcase
    I recall there used to be a rather good recording studio on Tollington Park.
  • Tallboy
    @ Staplejack. Yes but they're all too far away. I want somewhere on my doorstep. And most of the ones you mention are rubbish. It needs to be large, clean, well equipped and never gets busy.
  • andy

    @Jeremy Fisher: A Decca recording studio that became a masonic lodge that became a 'highly desirable live-work space'

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/buy-of-the-week-finsbury-park-london-n4-469883.html

  • charlieboy
    SGR def needs a specialist cacti shop....
  • Slabber
    They should turn the Rowans disco back into a snooker club.
  • Mirandola
    A second hand bookshop. Not a charity one. Something like Walden's in Camden.
  • Slabber
    What's wrong with the Beacon Book Store?
  • ADGS
    Bit niche in its holdings, isn't it? I'd like a secondhand book store too. Or a secondhand record shop.
  • Mirandola
    Beacon is great, but I'm with ADGS. I'd like a general bookshop as well as a specialist one.
  • krappyrubsnifkrappyrubsnif
    Another Internet cafe. Dream River was full today.
  • missisclack
    Tallboy - I think the answer is in your name, but if you are a woman (!), Paradise Walk next to the Dairy is always empty, but it's laydeez only.
  • Tallboy
    @Missisclack - Could have been perfect for me. Ideal location and free of sweaty, lumbering grunters. Sadly I'd never get past reception what with my inappropriate appendages.
  • Slabber
    Prospero's Books in Crouch End is up for sale.
  • JaneDoe
    I would love a gig venue. I dream of The Rainbow re-opening or the George Robey.

    I've also read about a smallish club called 'The Fickle Pickle' which was once the place to go in Finsbury Park (I think in the 60's?) Does anyone know where it was?
  • theolddairy
    someone open a Deli please!
  • sincers
    A Woolworths; or a hairdressers. I have to walk at least 20 yards to get to one these days.
  • Jenowl
    I would like a swimming pool.
  • tosscat

    The biggest helter-skelter in the world.

  • Jenowl
    The Magic Faraway Tree.
  • Tallboy
    Now you're all just being silly. Of the above suggestions, I am now prepared to ditch my original wish for a gym and will support theolddiary's campaign for a deli. Something like the one in Highbury Barn.
  • tosscat

    You can be Moonface!

  • tosscat

    The deli that used to be where Taste of Italy is used to be nice, in fact, isn't Taste of Italy a deli?

  • Ali

    Glad to see people are still reading Enid Blyton. The adventure series is great !

  • miss annie
    @slabber
    The Muswell Hill Bookshop, which is the sister shop to Prospero's Books is also up for rent.

    I'd like a deli that sells good marinated artichokes and rollmops or failing that, a Dunns bakery with tearoom attached - like that new Haberdashery cafe in Crouch End but not as overpriced. Perhaps with a little selection of old fashioned sweets for sale too to cater for pick and mix needs.
  • N4Matt
    A reasonably priced taxidermist or a Gentleman's outfitters.

    Failing that a wig shop, oh, hang on.....
  • Tallboy
    We did have a Gentleman's outfitters on the corner of Stroud Green and Tollington (opposite corner to Nando's) in the 90's (can't remember if it was still there in the Noughties). Very old school and unfashionable at the time.
  • ADGS
    There's already a taxidermist within walking distance, Get Stuffed on Essex Road. Or are their prices unreasonable?
  • jandb
    Alarming home page for their web site too.
  • Misscara
    Reminds me of the time my mother insisted on having their deceased labrador stuffed. My father went to a lot of trouble and expense having it done, only for my mother to decide that she didn't want the bloody thing in the house as the 'glazed, lifeless expression' upset her too much. My mother is barking.
  • N4Matt
    Get Stuffed and I really do not get along. They absolutely destroyed a Pine Marten that I wanted mounting and their approach to Water Fowl taxidermy could be considered slap dash at best.
  • jandb
    N4Matt wins this week's "things you thought you'd never read on SG.org" prize.
  • missisclack
    I love the fact that you can't just walk in to Get Stuffed, you have to have legitimate reason to make an appointment (not just want to gawp). It's like the dead half of Noah's Ark in there.

    I shall regret for ever that one friend's suggestion to get me a stuffed emperor penguin for my birthday before last was overruled by another friend.

    If ever any of you come across one, let me know, eh?
  • Donna

    I'd like:

    M&S Food Primark

  • miss annie
    There a taxidemy/antique/junk shop on White Conduit St off Chapel Market at Angel. It is quite spectacularly bonkers, do have a look if you're down that neck of the woods. It has the most marvellous Victorian shopfront too.
  • Matt79
    Old tellies and matresses, cracked or loose paving stones, winos... oh no, we have all those already.
  • sg_mike
    We need one of those really classy bars, the sort that would never allow me in there.
  • badkitteh
    Stringfellows?
  • kptownend
    A polar bear
  • Ed B
    Fewer wig shops.
  • ArkadyArkady

    This may be a little ambitious for the scope of the question, but what I would really like to see is a masterplan for Stroud Green, particularly focussed on the SGR/Tollington Park crossroads. It’s arguably the geographical centre of Stroud Green (as opposed to the historical centre at Fiveways) and with the exception of the extreme southern stretch that is currently being redeveloped it’s the least salubrious part of SGR. It needs selective demolition and replacement of most of the post-war structures.

    In particular need of demolition: a) Wall Court (and ultimately all the crap behind it) b) The Tesco building c) The building opposite Tesco behind the slip-road d) The Nandos building

    These should be replaced with modern, sustainable, mixed-use buildings with facades that match the scale and style of the surrounding Victorian heritage. Ground floor retail, perhaps with restrictive covenants preventing too many big chains. Above and behind should be housing (ultimately with more provision than there is currently) with a mix of social, affordable and private homes. If done correctly this would result in a more attractive street with increased retail floorspace (more revenue for the council) and more homes. It would also help to end the relative ‘ghetto feel’ of the council estate by integrating it into the surrounding area.

  • JungleFaceJake
    Sorted!
  • ArkadyArkady

    I smell mockery, JFJ.

  • miss annie
    I think it's a great plan but in the interests of whimsy I think it would be rather nice if we could have things like thatched roofs, gabled windows and a bit of half timbering mixed in. Surely thatch is sustainable?
  • JungleFaceJake
    maybe a little bit.

    I kinda, sorta, almost completely agree with you...

    But realistically Tesco would have to change their building with permission. And if that was the case they would probably apply to make it bigger, as would Nandos.

    The Bit by the slip road facing the post office could go, but they are private businesses and could realistically be swollowed up by another chain.

    But yeah, not much mockery for once. SGR does need a good refurb, but the council will never put enough money up to support the local businesses to do so, and would more likely give in to ££ that Big Business can throw at it.

    It would be nice to have it all nice and Crouch End-esque though.
  • miss annie
    Mistimed edited post from me makes it look like JFJ agrees with the thatch idea which I'm pretty sure is not the case.
    Would love it to be Crouch Endy, perhaps we could have the fountain that Crouch End sadly lacks.
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