Has there ever been a tattier looking shop operating on Sydenham High Street? It really is the pits. I thought the former Appollo video shop now trading as a full time boot sale was bad but it looks like Harrods compard to the latest venture to grace our high street. Crazy Prices at Just Jeffs may not be everyone's cup of tea but at least Jeff has invested in a new facia and customised awning. The Fish Shop on the other side has also recently has a new front. East2West, on the other hand, have just painted over the previous shop name, only the letters though, so as to save on paint. The on street display is a ricketty frame and a table. There is a hanging basket outside which just looks like a waste of time now. On the whole it all looks very third world, although I bet there are better looking shop fronts in Afircan slums and recently bombed Gori. Don't the council demand some minimu standards?
The shop was offered at a rent of £18k a year, cant see them making enough to pay that.
East2West supermarket
The owners are Afghanis, and told me they were paying £17K. I asked my Afghani friend from the allotments about it, and his immediate comment was that there were already too many supermarkets ...
I'm not sure that the Council is in a position to demand minimum standards beforehand, but let's make sure a good eye is kept on it from the outset.
I'm not sure that the Council is in a position to demand minimum standards beforehand, but let's make sure a good eye is kept on it from the outset.
Totally agree, when I saw it my mouth dropped open and hit the floor. They even have the same carpet from when it was the photography shop!
I bet they didn't do any research, find out what people want etc.
What a joke and what a shame for other traders in the high street who do try for the whole street to be dragged down by...oh I'm so frustrated I can't even be bother to finish this senten
I bet they didn't do any research, find out what people want etc.
What a joke and what a shame for other traders in the high street who do try for the whole street to be dragged down by...oh I'm so frustrated I can't even be bother to finish this senten
Well, don't worry - if the environment and products are as bad as you say, with rent of £17k a year, it'll go under before long.
Why is it that pound shops and dodgy supermarkets find Sydenham such an attractive place to do business? There are clearly people in the area with disposable income, but with little choice in where to spend it. The thing that woke me up to that fact more than anything else was the train station on the morning of the British 10k; loads of healthy, young people, clearly not wearing running shoes from the nearest pound shop.
Which organisation's job is it to incentivise new businesses to open in Sydenham?
Why is it that pound shops and dodgy supermarkets find Sydenham such an attractive place to do business? There are clearly people in the area with disposable income, but with little choice in where to spend it. The thing that woke me up to that fact more than anything else was the train station on the morning of the British 10k; loads of healthy, young people, clearly not wearing running shoes from the nearest pound shop.
Which organisation's job is it to incentivise new businesses to open in Sydenham?
I really rather doubt that the owners will see a return on the money they put up for the rent (and lets not forget all the other expenses too) - retailing is a very tough business especially at the moment - but I don't like to see people fail. I think that one of the problems facing the high street is that there are too many shop units and that sooner or later some will have to put to other uses. Do we still have a town centre manager?
I think you'll find Sydenham has a Town Centre Manager employed by Lewisham. The current occupier of this position is Ms Julie Sutch.Chazza wrote:Well, don't worry - if the environment and products are as bad as you say, with rent of £17k a year, it'll go under before long.
Why is it that pound shops and dodgy supermarkets find Sydenham such an attractive place to do business? There are clearly people in the area with disposable income, but with little choice in where to spend it. The thing that woke me up to that fact more than anything else was the train station on the morning of the British 10k; loads of healthy, young people, clearly not wearing running shoes from the nearest pound shop.
Which organisation's job is it to incentivise new businesses to open in Sydenham?
I would suggest she is the best starting point for your questions.....
E: julie.sutch at lewisham.gov.uk
or give her a call at Lewisham, though she is often out of the office or working from home, so email would probably be the best way to pose your questions.
Ali B
seems a very tough place to try & open a supermarket, opposite Sommerfield & 2/3 others within 5mins walk.
Well I hope at least they manage to do up the front properly, unlike it's current state.
I'm curious what a town centre manager does, she seems to have a fair amount of work to do or do they just pass on advice?
Well I hope at least they manage to do up the front properly, unlike it's current state.
I'm curious what a town centre manager does, she seems to have a fair amount of work to do or do they just pass on advice?
Our own STF has some more info on her
http://www.sydenham.org.uk/event_town_c ... nager.html
http://www.sydenham.org.uk/event_town_c ... nager.html
Stock2Exchange
I beg to differ with the latest shabby retail arrival on Sydenham high St. There's an old second hand furniture shop on 152 Sydenham Road called Stock2Exchange that really qualifies for the "Pits" (Cesspit) award. This shop(dumping ground) spills over its shabby unwanted furniture onto the high street - the maggots and fleas that jump out of the grey sofas are in clear view, woodlice crawl hungrily from the wooden tables - I could go on and on - sounds like a tale but it's absolutely true.
I really object to furniture sprawling out onto the high street - it's an obstruction and disgusting to look at. Further up the road near to Lidl at least the furniture shop there displays its goods tidily and is generally of better quality and easier on the eye. Still looks shabby -
Isn't there anything we can do about the eyesore furniture displays popping up like pound shops?
I really object to furniture sprawling out onto the high street - it's an obstruction and disgusting to look at. Further up the road near to Lidl at least the furniture shop there displays its goods tidily and is generally of better quality and easier on the eye. Still looks shabby -
Isn't there anything we can do about the eyesore furniture displays popping up like pound shops?
Hi Biscuit
I know this furniture Shop , hardly Harrods is it.
I was nearly run over whilst walking on the pavement past this shop. The owners seem to not understand what a pavement is. I did make a comment but gained impression I was completly ignored.
Can someone please stamp down on vans or cars ( mainly vans ) treating the pavement as part of the road.
Regaring the superior grocery outley East2west, I had a job finding this as looking for a board above the establishment. I could not believe it when I eventually saw where the name was.
Seeing Postcards etc of The High Street is is plain to see that this would not have been allowed in 1890 , our standards seem to have gone down the plug hole
I know this furniture Shop , hardly Harrods is it.
I was nearly run over whilst walking on the pavement past this shop. The owners seem to not understand what a pavement is. I did make a comment but gained impression I was completly ignored.
Can someone please stamp down on vans or cars ( mainly vans ) treating the pavement as part of the road.
Regaring the superior grocery outley East2west, I had a job finding this as looking for a board above the establishment. I could not believe it when I eventually saw where the name was.
Seeing Postcards etc of The High Street is is plain to see that this would not have been allowed in 1890 , our standards seem to have gone down the plug hole
Congratulations to East2West on their brand new facia and awning, a great improvement. They've taken a saw to the outside racks and added some artificial grass, it almost looks classy!. Inside has been cleaned up as well so I guess they wanted to open as soon as they could and worried about the fit out later.
As for the furniture shop refered to above; I see they have a unique and novel marketing campaign: by a bed and get a barbeque (worth £3.99) free. Alomost as inticing as the offer seen at the Turkish shop last year; spend £15 and get a free tin of tomatoes!
As for the furniture shop refered to above; I see they have a unique and novel marketing campaign: by a bed and get a barbeque (worth £3.99) free. Alomost as inticing as the offer seen at the Turkish shop last year; spend £15 and get a free tin of tomatoes!