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Walking down SGR today I was depressed not only at the number of closed or closing shops but the general grubbiness of some of them. Maybe these places exist on the breadline, but I would hope this neighbourhood (including pulsating luxury enclaves like Lorne Road) would support a slightly stronger retail eco system. Hammocked between an admittedly strong collection of wig shops at FP and the sterile Sainsbury's at the other, there aint a huge amount to ring the bell for is there?.
What happend to that funny fabric shop which specialised in organic nylon? The wonderful quirky hardware shop run by the Jamacian chap who would happily sell you a nail for 3p and was addicted to Radio 3? Yes, Ok, Doreen's Hair fashions is great, but face it - compared to Victors in Tollington Park (even the dreaded Chaps and Dames) it is not going to attract the really trendy crowds we need to tempt to this post code. Agree?
The subtext here is that Tollington Park is booming - Nandos (very international), Vitors (say no more), the Front Room (over priced bacon sarnies, but good lookin staff who will ALWAYS oblige in any way), the Indian place with spectacular Elvis nights (ditto - VERY OBLIGING) etc, etc . C'mon admit it. it's almost like the King's Road. SGR is going to the dogs which is shameful. I hope that new Turkish place works, and we will be there in force on the opening date with my brother in law who is a vet.
ps the snow white dry cleaners is an exception that proves the rule -
Even if it means boarded up shops/cafes/bars I'd prefer a less polished Stroud Green Road. I remember that hardware store and the lovely man who ran it. On a positive note most of the very individual stores remain. I hope Tollington road gives SGR a run for its money. SGR has always been a healthy mix of residential houses, small shops and interesting restaurants.
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And raucous, late night drinking establishments.
Tollington Park has only about a dozen commercial lets and they are pretty much all hairdressers!
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I think that someone has set TT a task/dare to mention his brother-in-law The Vet and Vitor in every thread.
Just an observation like. But I'm not sure if it's very sweet or a just a teensy bit boring. -
I wouldn't mind if it was funny.
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Aww don't be so mean.
I think TT is a breath of fresh air and it's nice to have someone being so supportive of the local area when lots of shops are struggling to keep open at the moment. It's nice to have someone cheering them on. -
I find it sligthly frustrating that at least half of all new establishments which open in Stroud Green fit into one of two categories: hair/beauty or Turkish owned/themed cafe or restaurant.
While some are very welcome, Vitor certainly and I hope the new Turkish place finally gives the area a Green Lane quality kebab place, couldn't we do with a little more variety?
Where's the next Front Room? Seeems odd that the area's business people don't look at the success of the Front Room, Season and the like and try that, rather another (and another...) Nail bar or Turkish Cafe. Why can't the area consistently attract a more diverse group of entrepreneurs and retailers? -
"good lookin staff who will ALWAYS oblige in any way" makes it sound like the Front Room is a knocking shop.
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I think that that's what he was intending, TT's posts often sound like they were written in the 1970's. Some of them have a very 'Carry On' tone.
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You reckon? I would have thought he'd get more innuendo out of Vitor's if so. Something for the weekend, sir, or just a little off the top?
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Fin, I do agree that variety is important. I think there's enough when it comes to restaurants. I don't eat out that much so there's enough here to keep me going. I haven't been to some of them. I think the variety of pubs and bars is quite good too. Annie, I do agree there's a place for late night bars (as long as they're respectful of the many neighbours around them).
I think rather than more bars and restaurants, we could do with more types of shops. A good dvd rental shop with more than just blockbusters to choose from would be very welcome. An indie cinema, and even a good fringe theatre/art space might be a welcome addition. From what I've seen on another thread, there might be one coming soon. -
A dvd rental shop? You are joking.
How about some more payphones, a shop where you can buy a Sega Megadrive and somewhere to develop my photos?
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Yes, you can go in, select a dvd and then take it home and play on your dvd player. I guess downloading and postal rental is more common now, but many places in London have dvd stores, especially concentrating on the non-Hollywoood genre.
Sparks already develop photos. I'm not sure about Sega-megadrive as I've never been a gamer.
Out of interest, does anyone still use paypones? -
I agree that SG road is looking a bit miserable at the moment, Dudley's shut, Miso's shut, I don't know what's going on with the fabric place... And lots of places seem to be emptier than usual.
Hoping it's just a phase, nothing worse than a high street with lots of boarded up shops! (Well, I'm sure there is, but you know what I mean.)
Not convinced that Tollington Park is "booming" though...
@Kreuzkav:The library has got a good selection of dvd's, lots of foreign ones at a quid for a week's rental. You can even suggest titles for them to get in. Re payphones: No. -
Why not go for a niche retro high street? Our Price records alongside the video rental shop. And maybe one of those TV rental shops that looked like they were from another era even when they were still around. Going by that recent documentary with Lionel Blair, it would make us all feel younger and full of energy.
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Our price was never much good. I always preferred the likes of Sister Ray or Selectadisc on Berwick Street. A retro-vinyl store might be interesting but I doubt they'd get much business.
I do need to start going to the libraries again. I haven't done so since I returned to London last year. However, even though you can get many dvd titles at them, I would prefer the convenience and the aesthetic of a quality dvd rental place nearer to me. They have existed in places like Stoke Newington for ages. I think a lot of people still watch film on dvd rather than online. However, their days are probably limited. -
I think some people use the Upper Tollington payphone by the zebra crossing to order drugs.
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Netflix (the US post-to-rent and online streaming company) currently accounts for 20% of evening Internet traffic. Amazon does rentals and will be launching streaming soon. Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy last year.
If opening a DVD rental shop isn't the very definition of commercial suicide, I'm not sure what is. Like it or loathe it, there's a reason there aren't record shops anymore.
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I think the aesthetic of Hornsey Library DVD section is pretty good actually and I'm quite fussy about which fusty municipal buildings I go into.
I'd like something like a 'Bill's' on SGR, there's one in Brighton, kind of all day deli/cafe place that also does a really good selection of vegetables, but is also friendly. I tend to go to Crouch End to get vegetables, but I'd rather do that more locally.
I think if Woody's had gone more in that direction it would have done far better.
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Kreuzcav, There's a record store 20 mins walk away in Crotch End. Opposite The Haringay Arms.
I think the problem is the commercial rents and business rates on SG Rd are really expensive. I looked into it recently and was shocked by how high they are.
A nice cafe would be great. Not a greasy spoon, as we have plenty of those, but somewhere to sit and relax without going to the pub. There really isn't anywhere. Front Room is expensive and they can't make coffee or cook properly and tends to be mobbed by the pushchair brigade. Dream River or whatever it's called is not too bad but it's not very comfortable. The one next to WLM now has sofas in the window and has been redecorated, but some of their regular clientele look a bit scary to me.
What I'd like to see on SGR
Dotori, I know it already is but to have it on the main drag would be superb
A greengrocers selling decent & seasonal normal fruit & veg, not just the asian/african ones we already have.
A bakery/patisserie, maybe where you could have a coffee as well
A nice old-fashioned tearoom, with nice homemade cakes
A junk/vintage clothing/bookstore
A proper florist selling fresh flowers, not the freaky one next to the post office.
A cafe as above
Another late night bar/stripjoint to keep Kreuzcav happy
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I presume Amazon will, in the UK at least, be folding its rentals/streaming into the Lovefilm brand, given they've just bought that and it's the dominant player in the UK market. I think there is still a place for the occasional DVD rental/sale shop, but only in posh or hipster areas (I'm thinking of boutique places like the one on Liverpool Road, which seems to do fairly good trade).
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I noticed the sofas in the caff up by WLM (well, a bit further up but I assume it's the same one?). I used to go there a fair bit and didn't find the regulars too scary, but stopped going as it made my clothes reek of fried food. Even moreso than yer regular greasy spoon. I'd be willing to give it another go though.
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I would like to see...
1. A Wimpey restaurant
2. Spud U Like
3. Beejam
4. Blockbuster that only does VHS and betamax
5. Fosters Menswear
6. Mr Buyrite
7. Somewhere that sells pens, paper and envelopes
8. Gateway supermarket
9. Rover dealership
10. Ratners -
I love Wimpey!
I would like:
A place to top up my Oyster card.
A gift shop that only sells SG merchandise - I heart N4 gubbins, snowglobes with minature topiary elephants inside and wine made from grapes picked in the SG vineyard etc.
Dunn's
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@Brodiej - definitely a woolworths
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Does anyone recall Lord John outfitters? Or John Collier ('the window to watch'). There's no style on the highstreet anymore (Vitor's customers excepted).
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@misscara I should go over the hill a bit more. I forgot about the vinyl store opposite the Haringey Arms. I haven't bought vinyl for ages but was thinking of resurrecting an old deck and connecting it to my system. Another late bar would be welcome if located down the street. It might take the heat off the few that are here.
@ADGS I agree that it seems like thriving DVD stores are generally located in hipster areas - Broadway Market or posh areas- Liverpool Road. It's only a dream .....
I'm fairly happy with what we have here. Enough good but reasonably priced restaurants. Good pubs especially The Faltering Fallback and The Old Dairy. A good cafe and a few varied shops would be welcome though! -
@brodiej - can we also have:
Dolcis
Chelsea Girl
Kwiksave
C&A
Cannon cinema
Traditional travel agency -
Opium den
Workhouse
Cock pit
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FADS
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@ Jenowl. C&A and Kwiksave :-)
Come on folks, what this area really needs is a Lunn Poly! For all your shit holiday needs.
@ Pie Eater. If we're in the DIY game, lets bring in some competition from Texas Homecare. Texas Tom now lives in Tollington btw. -
They still have C&A in the Scandi countries, I went in one in Copenhagen it was like being in 'Life on Mars'.
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For those who want their Wimpey restaurant fix, there are still some dotted around London (usually in strange places like Woolwich, Southgate etc). Strangely enough someone mentioned this at work recently . C&A is in Germany too (a more modern version) as is Woolworths. Woolworths is quite shabby though. Well, the one that was near me (I did live in a fairly shabby district) was for certain.
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"Our price was never much good."
The one in Romford was awesome I'll have you know. Turned out quite a niche in Dance early 90's before the indie boom took over. Not quite in the same league as JiFS in Chadwell Heath but hey, not bad for Zone 5.
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@Kreuzkav, although its a bit of a walk there is an excellent DVD rental place on Archway Road. It's family run, the staff are friendly and highly knowledgeable, they stock an an enormous range of titles and they give away free movie posters.
Unfortunately they don't do megadrive games, but if anyone wants to borrow Dragons Fury or Road-Rash you can have mine for as long as you like. -
@ David. I'm sure there were some good ones. The ones I encountered weren't very good when it came to what I was looking for. However, a manager can make a big difference to even a chain store. Maybe the ones I encountered were the weakest links. They stocked some good cds but they were always a bit expensive. There were never any branches that near me, so I'd wait until I was in Camden or Berwick st to buy them.
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@topsfield. Thanks and I'll check it out, but as you say it's a bit of a distance and I watch films online and through a postal rental system, which is a bit more convenient. It would be nice to have a nearby store as it's a bit more immediate for the dvds (that sometimes have interesting extra features). Also, I only have a laptop so watching online films is not as good as on my tv screen via a dvd player.
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JiFS were amazing, I'd forgotten all about them! Woolworths in Romford did a great line in picture discs.
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I third the request for a Stroud Green Wimpy. I don't even know what the nearest Wimpy to Stroud Green is these days. It was probably the one in North Finchley but that's shut down now (not that the Wimpy website has updated its google map accordingly)
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There used to be a Wimpy down on Seven Sisters Road until around the mid 90's, think it's a Fried Chicken place now (surprise, surprise)
I've only just moved back into the area before Christmas and was quite excited about living where I grew up again but as the weeks have passed I've realised there isn't as much to offer as I thought there would be.
Dudleys shutting down is a bit annoying as i used it a few times and found there waffles and milkshakes to be a great hangover cure (well for the time it took to consume them anyway) -
@miss annie Was JiFS owned by Steve Davis? I'm not sure if that was local urban myth or not and it seems too obscure to ascertain even for the interweb.
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@David, I think it was a local urban myth but I'm not sure. Everything was said to have something to with Steve Davis in those days.
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It is not surprising that you find branches of Clemens & August in Europe as that is where they came from originally in the Nederland’s.. I guess in the UK they couldn’t compete with the fast fashion shops.
Maybe we should get Hepworths. I remember buying my first suit there on the tick – brown pinstripe with waistcoat – very fashionable at the time and I am sure I saw something similar on Ashes to Ashes.
Ro what ever it is hardware shop moved as he has been able to buy the Freehold of the shop
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I follow these rules when coming out of my front door. I turn left and go through SGR towards Finsbury Park to get to work Mon-Fri. At the weekend, regardless of what I want to buy/do/eat locally, I only ever turn right and go to Crouch End for it. I just don't like SGR.
However, I did like the fabric woman who made me some lovely curtains for my room but now she has gone. Also, I wish that little shop next to Mind that has had a dressing table at a 'reduced' price of 500 pounds in the window since 2007 would just admit defeat and CLOSE. The quality of shops on SGR is pretty poor, and stretches at poor quality for some surprising distance with only the odd gem.
Like Season though. What a great little idea for an eatery.
I suppose if I was a muslim wanting meat or a black woman wanting a new clip on hair piece I'd fucking love the area. Depends on what and who you are really, doesn't it? I mean, if I wanted to improve it for myself personally I'd want a gay bar and a rare horror film DVD shop. But you can't EVERYTHING on your doorstop can you? -
the fabric woman who made me some lovely curtains for my room but now she has gone yes she has moved up the Road and can be found near to the K Bar
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Think the JiFs/Steve Davis thing might have come from the fact that he is mental for prog rock, and has/had a room devoted to storing his records.
He also mentions 'Marmite', for the benefit of readers of the other thread:
Steve Davis - My Obsession -
I'd like:
an old fashioned sweet shop;
a good cobblers;
for the gym behind the Old Dairy to open again, but with more variety of classes, at slightly different times and some of the old instructors back (Mel & Natasha);
market stalls selling good seasonal fruit and veg (not 'a pound for a bowl'), flowers, bread, cheeses and fish;
a fancy dress costume shop, like the one in Mr Benn;
a Vietnamese canteen;
a very tall helter skelter ride and a bouncy castle. -
I had occasion to venture out to Stoke Newington for the first time today. On my little wander down Church Street I noticed that there are two proper florists, a tea shop with home made cake, a bakery/patisserie where you can have coffee, a vintage clothing store, a proper record shop and a interesting film rental shop. Also a pretty corsetiers/lingerie shop, a toy shop, pubs and restaurants.
It's very fancy indeed, I wish it was in Stroud Green
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I think Stoke Newington is my favourite place in London. I ended up on SGR (due to my long term ex-girlfriend moving here), which isn't a bad place to end up, but if I could move my cheap flat to Stokey I'd more than happily do so. As you said, dvd store, nice cafes,record store.... Stoke Newington can be a bit poncey but SGR can be of a transit zone for the middle classes who have downgraded a bit.
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The place for a proper cafe and deli is in the row of shops across from Nandos under Charter Court where there's currently a service road, two hairdressers and the West Indian takeaway. In summer it's the only place along SGR where it gets the sun all day and you could have tables and chairs outside. Maybe an awning like that Italian deli in Crouch End. They should close that service road and resurrect the plan for the Stroud Green piazza.
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In this Discussion
- ADGS February 2011
- Ali January 19
- andy February 2011
- Arkady January 19
- ashman January 19
- barnesbq February 2011
- Bridget February 2011
- Brodiej February 2011
- ChangN4N6 January 22
- David February 2011
- dion February 2011
- dorothy February 2011
- Ed B February 2011
- Emma February 2011
- Fin February 2011
- gardener-joe January 21
- graeme January 19
- Ian February 2011
- jamboshoeshine February 2011
- Jenowl February 2011
- Kaz February 2011
- krappyrubsnif January 22
- kreuzkav January 19
- mikecabic February 2011
- Mirandola January 22
- miss annie January 21
- Misscara January 19
- missisclack February 2011
- pie eater February 2011
- R&J February 2011
- SBW January 19
- ShaunG February 2011
- TollingtonTom February 2011
- topsfield February 2011
- tosscat February 2011
