Hello
Noticed over the last week or so some movement in the whitewashed windows of the 'Atlantic' shop - the one that had ibis slippers in the window - and vague movements at the defunct 'Hair company' shop - anyone know what's happening?
Also, while we're at it, the old bank on the corner seems to have lost its To Let sign?
G-Man
'Atlantic' shop and 'the Hair Company' Anything happening?
Subway is a franchise - pretty much anyone can open one up anywhere.G-Man wrote:it is good that large corporations are seeing the potential of the area
I've used Subway only a handful of times in my life, but at least the shop will look smarter and be of more use than an outlet for hotel slippers and out-of-date fizzy drinks.
A subway eh?
I must admit I don't care much for subway but it's certainly better than what is to be found close by to there currently. I must admit I am struggling to understand where subway will take business away from existing operations...
In my limited useage of subway (once every now and then at the Berwick St market one when I have a raging hangover) I believe their value proposition to be:
Freshly made
Fresh ingredients
Wide choice
Cooked in-situ
Hygenic
Now, aside from the Blue Mountain, Kente, Trattoria, Ghurkas and the Dolphin I am truly struggling to think of one of the ghastly salmonella vendors on our High Street that I would safely say meet one, if any of the above criteria. I cannot think of anywhere that acutally has filled baguettes either. None of the few decent places we have offer the same fare as subway.
I abhor faceless 'franchised corporations' like this and Starbucks et al but if their arrival means places like East2West et al go to the wall then BRING IT ON!
I must admit I don't care much for subway but it's certainly better than what is to be found close by to there currently. I must admit I am struggling to understand where subway will take business away from existing operations...
In my limited useage of subway (once every now and then at the Berwick St market one when I have a raging hangover) I believe their value proposition to be:
Freshly made
Fresh ingredients
Wide choice
Cooked in-situ
Hygenic
Now, aside from the Blue Mountain, Kente, Trattoria, Ghurkas and the Dolphin I am truly struggling to think of one of the ghastly salmonella vendors on our High Street that I would safely say meet one, if any of the above criteria. I cannot think of anywhere that acutally has filled baguettes either. None of the few decent places we have offer the same fare as subway.
I abhor faceless 'franchised corporations' like this and Starbucks et al but if their arrival means places like East2West et al go to the wall then BRING IT ON!
Last edited by Ulysses on 19 Nov 2009 12:08, edited 1 time in total.
From the Subway franchise page: http://www.subway.co.uk/business/franch ... ation.aspx
"In fact, in some cases, traditional SUBWAY® outlets can be opened for as little as c. £100,000."
That's an awful lot of sandwiches. Someone must have tremendous confidence in Sydenham. A bit of a tragedy if it is misplaced. Guess whatever one thinks of their product we should hope they succeed if only to give confidence to other entrepeneurs considering an SE26 investment.
Stuart
"In fact, in some cases, traditional SUBWAY® outlets can be opened for as little as c. £100,000."
That's an awful lot of sandwiches. Someone must have tremendous confidence in Sydenham. A bit of a tragedy if it is misplaced. Guess whatever one thinks of their product we should hope they succeed if only to give confidence to other entrepeneurs considering an SE26 investment.
Stuart
Isn't that a bit harsh? they are just trying to run a business, pay their mortgages/rent and feed their families. In this environment we should not be wishing that on anyone - especially preferring Starbucks or other chains to move in!Ulysses wrote:
I abhor faceless 'franchised corporations' like this and Starbucks et al but if their arrival means places like East2West et al go to the wall then BRING IT ON!
As for the franchise thing, I forgot. Hopefully they won't take business away from the cafes we do have inc Kente and Sugahill - who do wicked sarnies!
G-man
Not really.
If these 'business men' think it financially prudent to open a business in a unit that a previous identical business had failed in (as is often the case on Sydenham Road) then more fool them. What is the phrase? "A fool and his money"...
There are countless examples of a pound shop mercifully failing here in Sydders. Cue: a reposession, a period of vacancy and hey presto! ANOTHER sodding pound-shop opens up in it's wake. You can write the same for whatever fried abominations grace our High St currently. It's so sad and pitiful it's almost funny. This is before we factor in whatever damage they inflict on the actual shop-frontages!
What did Einstein say "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result"? *
I take no real pleasure in the human cost of a failed business but do take a perverse satisfaction when they rather predictably get is so woefully wrong...again. I'd like to know how they come by the business loans, especially in these straitened times. Or are they just 'dodgy' fronts?
I assure you the people who go into subway will not be the same demographic that will frequent BM/Kente/Sugahill.
* Might not have been Einstein or even that quote.
If these 'business men' think it financially prudent to open a business in a unit that a previous identical business had failed in (as is often the case on Sydenham Road) then more fool them. What is the phrase? "A fool and his money"...
There are countless examples of a pound shop mercifully failing here in Sydders. Cue: a reposession, a period of vacancy and hey presto! ANOTHER sodding pound-shop opens up in it's wake. You can write the same for whatever fried abominations grace our High St currently. It's so sad and pitiful it's almost funny. This is before we factor in whatever damage they inflict on the actual shop-frontages!
What did Einstein say "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result"? *
I take no real pleasure in the human cost of a failed business but do take a perverse satisfaction when they rather predictably get is so woefully wrong...again. I'd like to know how they come by the business loans, especially in these straitened times. Or are they just 'dodgy' fronts?
I assure you the people who go into subway will not be the same demographic that will frequent BM/Kente/Sugahill.
* Might not have been Einstein or even that quote.
The franchisee would make a loss yes. But not half the loss the bank would make. Who pays for that?
Wishing failure on somebody creating what may be a useful service to some and no harm to others would seem perverse. Not to mention unsubstantiated innuendo. As you know them, or at least their sex, then perhaps you could substantiate?
Stuart
Wishing failure on somebody creating what may be a useful service to some and no harm to others would seem perverse. Not to mention unsubstantiated innuendo. As you know them, or at least their sex, then perhaps you could substantiate?
Stuart
At first glance I think this is BRILLIANT! Not everyone in Sydenham is going to want to sit and eat a sandwich in Kente or pay the prices of Blue Mountain, particularly teenagers!
I know the nutritional content of Subway sandwiches is supposed to be questionable but I still think it is better than a fried chicken place and will look a bit smarter!
I know we don't want to be overrun by chains but any successful high street has to have some and it encourages independents to give it a go too.
Nearby successful high streets such as Beckenham and Lordship Lane have lots of chains. We have barely any!
I know the nutritional content of Subway sandwiches is supposed to be questionable but I still think it is better than a fried chicken place and will look a bit smarter!
I know we don't want to be overrun by chains but any successful high street has to have some and it encourages independents to give it a go too.
Nearby successful high streets such as Beckenham and Lordship Lane have lots of chains. We have barely any!
I am not quite sure I understand your question Stuart. So I'll reply to what I think your train of thought is.
By 'unsubstantiated innuendo' I assume you mean scurrilous rumours? The only statement in my post that would lead one to infer thusly is the "dodgy fronts" statement. This has little or no basis in fact but hardly libellous. I was under the [clearly mistaken] impression that this was an open forum where one could put down their own point of view.
Yes, it's fairly sweeping but isn't that the way of forums? I intimated that these businesses aren't exactly whiter than white to merely question how they get financed. In these impecunious times I can't imagine too many Small Business Managers giving out more tax-payers money to fund yet another poundshop here in Sydders. The track record of them is hardly glowing? "Good money after bad" was never more apt when it comes to Sydenham's current entrepeneurs...*ahem*
I don't wish failure on anyone in truth. But I do wish for greater variety of shops. I also wish for shop-owners to exhibit a bit of bloody common-sense and some semblance of apititude/intelligence. It beggars belief that despite all these tat emporiums folding and there being a general lack of customers in these down-at-heel stores that someone, somewhere has that eureka! moment..."I know what, I'll open up a pound-shop!"
As I said previously it would be almost funny it if weren't so sad and pitiful. A bit like our High St.
In short: There's a surfeit of crap shops and an increasing paucity of perons who would and do wish to frequent said shops. *
* Again, just this posters own view as he walks past them and is yet to see one shopper, ever, in some of them...which probably explains why they fold.
By 'unsubstantiated innuendo' I assume you mean scurrilous rumours? The only statement in my post that would lead one to infer thusly is the "dodgy fronts" statement. This has little or no basis in fact but hardly libellous. I was under the [clearly mistaken] impression that this was an open forum where one could put down their own point of view.
Yes, it's fairly sweeping but isn't that the way of forums? I intimated that these businesses aren't exactly whiter than white to merely question how they get financed. In these impecunious times I can't imagine too many Small Business Managers giving out more tax-payers money to fund yet another poundshop here in Sydders. The track record of them is hardly glowing? "Good money after bad" was never more apt when it comes to Sydenham's current entrepeneurs...*ahem*
I don't wish failure on anyone in truth. But I do wish for greater variety of shops. I also wish for shop-owners to exhibit a bit of bloody common-sense and some semblance of apititude/intelligence. It beggars belief that despite all these tat emporiums folding and there being a general lack of customers in these down-at-heel stores that someone, somewhere has that eureka! moment..."I know what, I'll open up a pound-shop!"
As I said previously it would be almost funny it if weren't so sad and pitiful. A bit like our High St.
In short: There's a surfeit of crap shops and an increasing paucity of perons who would and do wish to frequent said shops. *
* Again, just this posters own view as he walks past them and is yet to see one shopper, ever, in some of them...which probably explains why they fold.
I was reading into your post that some shops are set up to maximise the money that can be made from grants, loans and other stuff rather than to serving customers. Some may close with some of this still in the hands of the entrepreneur (or thief).
This does happen and eyebrows have been raised over some that have come and gone in Sydenham.
However, a franchise is a bit different. The money and a substantial part of the profit will go directly to Subway. Subway will have taken care that the franchisee is well referenced and apparently trustworthy. While being rooked is always possible the real risk here is market failure. People are betting real money it will succeed. Nobody wins if they don't. So why not support them? - as you do by choosing their product occasionally which should put you ahead of me on the desirability of having Subway in our high street
Stuart
This does happen and eyebrows have been raised over some that have come and gone in Sydenham.
However, a franchise is a bit different. The money and a substantial part of the profit will go directly to Subway. Subway will have taken care that the franchisee is well referenced and apparently trustworthy. While being rooked is always possible the real risk here is market failure. People are betting real money it will succeed. Nobody wins if they don't. So why not support them? - as you do by choosing their product occasionally which should put you ahead of me on the desirability of having Subway in our high street
Stuart
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digime2007
- Posts: 258
- Joined: 10 Sep 2007 18:26
- Location: Sydenhham
Subway freaks me out.
I only tried them once but after asking for something they proceeded to ask me at least 15 questions as I walked the production line. I guessed most of the answers as if I was avoiding saying 'pass' on mastermind. I must have got a lot of them wrong because what I got looked nothing like the picture in the window. Didn't taste right either.
It's a bit like ordering something in a restaurant and then being asked for the recipe. It's wrong.
I only tried them once but after asking for something they proceeded to ask me at least 15 questions as I walked the production line. I guessed most of the answers as if I was avoiding saying 'pass' on mastermind. I must have got a lot of them wrong because what I got looked nothing like the picture in the window. Didn't taste right either.
It's a bit like ordering something in a restaurant and then being asked for the recipe. It's wrong.
I see, I think confusion reigned here Stuart. Apologies for not understanding your point. I understand now.
I think we've all seen the businesses that may have been hoodwinking investors come and go in Sydenham. Less so now perhaps given the recession but still, I think both our points valid.
I'm fairly torn by it being a Subway. On a sliding scale of desirability Subway might rate a '1' for me. Somewhere around KFC or McDonald's. That written it is part of a chain and as poppy said vibrant successful High Streets have their independents and their chains. Their high-end and their low-end.
I fear that if this low-end chain (albeit franchised) fails here then this might scupper any lingering hope for a Pizza Express [insert your own desirable restaurant/shop here] and the like. After all Subway has the supply chain, brand/buying strength, advertising support and consistent product offering that somewhere like 'Istanbul' could only dream of.
I will infrequently support it *. But only AFTER I make my usual bee-line for Wellbeing and the other (high-end independents) on my preferred list.
Subway isn't for me and yet I sort of welcome it.
Is what has become of me? So down-trodden by the current vulgarity that pervades Sydenham Road that I trumpet the arrival of a Subway‽
* I only have it once-in-a-blue-moon but can reccomend the foot long chicken fajita with all the salads and the southwest sauce as a cracking hangover cure. That and a can of irn-bru
I think we've all seen the businesses that may have been hoodwinking investors come and go in Sydenham. Less so now perhaps given the recession but still, I think both our points valid.
I'm fairly torn by it being a Subway. On a sliding scale of desirability Subway might rate a '1' for me. Somewhere around KFC or McDonald's. That written it is part of a chain and as poppy said vibrant successful High Streets have their independents and their chains. Their high-end and their low-end.
I fear that if this low-end chain (albeit franchised) fails here then this might scupper any lingering hope for a Pizza Express [insert your own desirable restaurant/shop here] and the like. After all Subway has the supply chain, brand/buying strength, advertising support and consistent product offering that somewhere like 'Istanbul' could only dream of.
I will infrequently support it *. But only AFTER I make my usual bee-line for Wellbeing and the other (high-end independents) on my preferred list.
Subway isn't for me and yet I sort of welcome it.
Is what has become of me? So down-trodden by the current vulgarity that pervades Sydenham Road that I trumpet the arrival of a Subway‽
* I only have it once-in-a-blue-moon but can reccomend the foot long chicken fajita with all the salads and the southwest sauce as a cracking hangover cure. That and a can of irn-bru
Nearest stores currently to SE26:Whiftoff wrote:Subway is not that bad. Its a lot better then Mac Donalds, KFC or Morleys. Not sure where next nearest one is. Don't think there's one in Palace or Forest Hill so would imagine it will do OK. Its a step in the right direction in my opinion.
Beckenham 270 High Street
West Norwood 346 Norwood Road
Croydon 83 High Street, Thornton Heath Halal Store
Bromley 14 East Street
Lewisham 75 High Street
Bromley 10 High Street
Southwark 1 Central Buildings Ground Floor, Rye Lane
London 174 Streatham Hill
London 95 Streatham High Road
Camberwell 76/78 Denmark Hill
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digime2007
- Posts: 258
- Joined: 10 Sep 2007 18:26
- Location: Sydenhham
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digime2007
- Posts: 258
- Joined: 10 Sep 2007 18:26
- Location: Sydenhham
Damn, so there's a 'foot long chicken fajita' shaped gap in the market and I missed it.Ulysses wrote: Nearest stores currently to SE26:
Beckenham 270 High Street
West Norwood 346 Norwood Road
Croydon 83 High Street, Thornton Heath Halal Store
Bromley 14 East Street
Lewisham 75 High Street
Bromley 10 High Street
Southwark 1 Central Buildings Ground Floor, Rye Lane
London 174 Streatham Hill
London 95 Streatham High Road
Camberwell 76/78 Denmark Hill