I was brought up in Upper Norwood before moving away. That's an area that's been up and down like a yo-yo! In the early '80's I lived in Whitechapel and in the late '80's I lived in Wimbledon but nearly bought on Wakehurst with a mate, (but he got sacked from his job for being hungover on his accountancy exams - doh!).
Compared to Whitechapel, this area was never rough in the '80's or early '90's. Tennis wise I started in 1995/6 at Clapham when the secondary school was still operating on what is now Walshingham Place by the courts. Again the area was never rough, if you think it was, then thank your lucky stars for your circumstances
The area has changed for sure, but more so people have changed. Technology has changed which has had the biggest effect on retail. There wasn't Ocado in 1996! Also we've gone through a period where money is cheap and returns on others investments are low. Thus property has risen above the rate of inflation for years now, especially commercial property in certain areas. The investors are looking to maximise their profits which in the current climate means the small operator gets squeezed out.
Vito's is to be replaced by another coffee shop apparently, and I am surprised that all the current coffee shops can survive because stats' show that coffee consumption is stable/dropping.
The exodus from north of the river to this area has propelled house prices and the surrounding costs to businesses. All we can do, if you want any business to survive, is to support them with our custom. Even that may not halt 'progress'.
