Like the Fairtrade sign that I blogged about, this sign mystified me.
Our local high street in East Dulwich is fantastic - full of useful local shops, a proper cheesemonger, a fishmonger, a great organic butcher, old fashioned DIY stores, fruit and veg shops. Then along comes White Stuff, a store that no-one wants, and sets up shop. There have been huge protests against them, it's totally out of keeping with the area and no-one wants them.
The sign that they put up on the outside of their new store says "There Goes The Neighbourhood."
I agree. So obviously do the graffiti artists. So do all the people in the East Dulwich forum.
So why would they write this up outside their store?
Bizarre. If there's a way to rub up an all ready angry community this might be it.
Posted by: Stephen Davies | Tuesday, 12 June 2007 at 12:05 PM
We have one on Northcote Road in Clapham near where I live. They sell horrible clothes to my eyes, but why the outcry? I have also wondered that if we replace the free capitalist model (ie, they can pay the rent and the landlord rents them the space) for this sort of thing, what do we replace it with? Voting on the forum you linked to? Winner gets the space? Or else who decides? When does local activism become nimbyism?
Posted by: David Brain | Tuesday, 12 June 2007 at 05:02 PM
For me it is just that it is totally useless, but what I do hope is that simple laws of market economies win and that if people really don't want it there, then they won't shop there, then it won't make money and then another shop might take its place.
We'll see....
It'll probably be packed with mums and buggies on the opening weekend!!
Posted by: Amelia Torode | Tuesday, 12 June 2007 at 05:10 PM
David - completely agree with you on the principle - funny thing is that in Marylebone High Street where A and I used to live, most of the real estate (retail + residential) is controlled by the De Walden family and they have been very smart in refusing high rent paying franchises (say Mc Donald etc) to establish themselves in the high street. Doing so they were able to maintain a huge appeal for residential tenants/leaseholders and they basically got their money back cause everybody wants to live there. When the ownership is very fragmented (like it is the case on Lorsdhip Lane) - it is more difficult to maintain this village atmosphere.
Posted by: Francois | Wednesday, 13 June 2007 at 07:43 AM
Francois that is a very good point I guess if the dictator is benevolent, but what if they like the kind of stores you don't or don't find useful? I guess your point is that you chose to live in that area BECAUSE of the stores and the vibe they give. It is very difficult this one . . . but you are right, horrible clothes.
Posted by: David Brain | Wednesday, 13 June 2007 at 12:24 PM
Why do you think that White Stuff shop is totally out of keeping with the area, Amelia ?
I would have thought that they've done their research pretty well and found a suitable demographic there.
And from memory - I kind of agree with them.
Posted by: TomLR | Friday, 06 July 2007 at 01:19 PM
East Dulwich has the same vibe and demographic as Stoke Newington, Muswell Hill, Crouch End - it is off the tube map, feels village-y (albeit an urban village) and sort of prides itself on not being an identikit High Street type of place. It is quite right on, Guardian reading, into local stores, one off shops and community initiatives.
But to my mind as a Planner who does a lot of research, this is a case of mis-reading demographic data, or rather failing to dig further than the raw numbers into the more qual aspect of personality.
On a demographic level, this shop should work. I'll let you know, they are still building at the moment!
A
Posted by: Amelia | Saturday, 07 July 2007 at 12:42 AM
Anyway Amelia - as the weather gets colder you'll be needing all those upturned collars to keep your ears warm.
I agree the sign is ill-conceived in this context 'though. Thing global, act global.
Posted by: TomLR | Saturday, 07 July 2007 at 07:41 PM
You're probably right. I think that honestly it is just the fine folks of East Dulwich do not want their area turning into the next Clapham (White Stuff embodying this)
Posted by: Amelia | Sunday, 08 July 2007 at 10:25 PM
It's just a clothes shop, not in itself a global capitalist conspiracy. We've got everything else we could possiby need in East Dulwich - including a ridiculous number of overpriced kitsch/designer knick-knack shops - so why not? People need clothes.
The White Stuff poster was clearly a joke - I think they know their market all too well!
Posted by: diane stafford | Sunday, 29 July 2007 at 09:20 PM