Where's Oolaboola?
Where's Oolaboola?
The wonderful Oolaboola antiques business on the corner of Willow Walk was thriving only a few months ago - and now it's gone. Does anyone know if they've relocated or genuinely gone?
Also I'm wondering what are the plans for the building which is being demolished every day? Is it destined to become another shiny new 'development opportunity' like the one at the top of Dartmouth Road that was a cane furniture shop in the early 80s, then an empty 'A3 permission' unit for donkeys years and is now a building site with only the hope of self-seeded buddleia and 'to let' boards as its latest residents? It would be in good company, just round the corner from the the empty retail units with empty flats above like the site next to (what was) Weatherspoons, on the site of what was a proper butcher until a good few years ago?
Also I'm wondering what are the plans for the building which is being demolished every day? Is it destined to become another shiny new 'development opportunity' like the one at the top of Dartmouth Road that was a cane furniture shop in the early 80s, then an empty 'A3 permission' unit for donkeys years and is now a building site with only the hope of self-seeded buddleia and 'to let' boards as its latest residents? It would be in good company, just round the corner from the the empty retail units with empty flats above like the site next to (what was) Weatherspoons, on the site of what was a proper butcher until a good few years ago?
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: 2 Mar 2007 10:14
- Location: sydenham
Yes I had been wondering about this. Wandered down to Oola Boola recently looking for a new table and found the place had been demolished.
Go to
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres ... ebapps.pdf
then scroll down or do 'edit, find, Kirkdale'.
As far as I can see it's the loss of a fantastic local business to make way for one retail unit (unless Oola Boola plan to come back and inhabit that?) with a few parking spaces created, but not enough to make any reeal difference. Plus a few more pokey, overpriced flats thrown in - like the ones recently built over the garage in Willow Way. Nice if you relish the smell of axel grease with your cornflakes.
Go to
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres ... ebapps.pdf
then scroll down or do 'edit, find, Kirkdale'.
As far as I can see it's the loss of a fantastic local business to make way for one retail unit (unless Oola Boola plan to come back and inhabit that?) with a few parking spaces created, but not enough to make any reeal difference. Plus a few more pokey, overpriced flats thrown in - like the ones recently built over the garage in Willow Way. Nice if you relish the smell of axel grease with your cornflakes.
I think Oola Boola has been affected by the downturn in the antiques trade - rise of Ikea and minimalism in interior decor. Sadly, antique shops are going out of business everywhere - even the upmarket ones in Pimlico Road are struggling. Once Kirkdale was full of antiques shops - Oola Boola was one of the last to hold out.
I've seen the plans at the town hall - in today's terms the flats are spacious and I'm sure they'll all sell very quickly! The owners must have decided that they would make more money out of the site than from selling antiques - and frankly, doesn't the area need more accommodation?
I've seen the plans at the town hall - in today's terms the flats are spacious and I'm sure they'll all sell very quickly! The owners must have decided that they would make more money out of the site than from selling antiques - and frankly, doesn't the area need more accommodation?
I agree. It's sad but it didn't come as any surprise to know that Oola Boola had gone the same way as all the other antique shops in Kirkdale. Excellent news that the space is now going to be put to good use as homes for local people, particularly if it's to be the type of accommodation that is in such demand for first-time buyers. I see that the plans include a rather unusual "stacking" lift which parks residents' cars USA style - definitely a first for Sydenham!
These plans certainly aren't slipshod or overdeveloped like many others in this area - and we should welcome them.
These plans certainly aren't slipshod or overdeveloped like many others in this area - and we should welcome them.
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- Posts: 132
- Joined: 24 Oct 2006 10:05
- Location: Sydenham Thorpes
With respect, when the guy who used to run Oola Boola tells you that he had to sell because of the drop in trade in the antiques trades and when practically every other antiques shop in Kirkdale has had to close for the same reason, I think we can take it that a drop in trade in the antiques business is to blame.
Of course, a specialist business like the one you mention can often do well even in a declining market.
All of my family (not me!) are involved in running antique businesses incidentally.
Of course, a specialist business like the one you mention can often do well even in a declining market.
All of my family (not me!) are involved in running antique businesses incidentally.
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- Posts: 1
- Joined: 11 May 2007 08:04
- Location: SE26
Oola Boola
A rather late and apologetic response to those wondering where we had gone. Robert and I are looking to relocate our business Oola Boola Antiques hopefully within this area. Each day we spend some of our time looking at prospective properties; so far though none have achieved the 'tick' boxes we require to run our business successfully.
We look forward to finding a suitable property in the near future.
We really enjoyed our time in Kirkdale and miss the loyalty and friendlessness of our customers. A huge Thank you for your support.
We will make a posting on this site, permission granted, when our ideal property is found.
Sandra Blackman
We look forward to finding a suitable property in the near future.
We really enjoyed our time in Kirkdale and miss the loyalty and friendlessness of our customers. A huge Thank you for your support.
We will make a posting on this site, permission granted, when our ideal property is found.
Sandra Blackman