Northcote Road quiet? Post Reply

[Pomegranate]

Is it just me or is Northcote Road very quiet? Met a friend for coffee at Gails yesterday and both noticed how quiet the shops were. Could be a lull pre Christmas but I do feel we need to support our local shops if we want to keep Northcote Road as lovely as it is.  

[olivierslounge]

It was interesting to read your comment. As a shop owner myself on Bellevue road I can confirm that it is the same everywhere and sadly a direct effect of cost of living but mostly caused by interest rates going through the roof...
This is affecting everybody and though it is the same around the country the South East and London are affected the hardest.
Business analysts are predicting that there will be an average of 7000 independent shops closing down every quarter in the year to come (28000 in a year!!!) so it has never been MORE IMPORTANT to shop local and support the businesses that you love. Every little bits help!
We must remember that the more empty shops there are, the less attractive the area becomes loosing a sense of community and driving property prices down... 
Olivier
 

[readysteadycook]

SDS also close soon, they said business is moving more online now and the Northcote rents are very expensive.

With so many price increases, it’s a place I don’t visit much anymore.

[Ivegotsunshine]

Interesting topic! I have lived in the direct Northcote rd area for the past 10 years and I wonder if one cause of the decline is the nature of shops that are opening. Personally I find that stores are becoming too upmarket and it is putting me off going in.

A typical illustration was Paul bakery (for the ones who remember), not cheap but still reasonable - not as expensive as Oree ! - that was replaced by Biscuiteers, which was one step up price-wise and more useful for occasional gifts than daily/weekly purchases.

Same with Joules replaced by Aspiga. Just a bit too expensive.

I guess my point is that for the same amount of money in total I’d rather make several middle of the range purchases than super expensive one. Ole&Stein is a good example: very expensive for pastries/sandwiches BUT still feels like a treat and doesn’t break the bank. I’m sure I end up spending £100+ a month there but I don’t often visit stores where basic items are £100+

[Mumof3SW11]

I have lived off Northcote Rd since 2009, and it is almost unrecognisable from then. Back then, you could barely get in coffee shops due to the number of buggies, the area felt busy and family friendly. There was a little kids cafe called Crumpet which had a play area, a proper greasy spoon cafe, the library hosted Monkey Music (and it was always full) etc. I think it’s become impossible to buy in the area as a young family, and along with the declining birth rate means the area is not the ‘nappy valley’ it once was. The range of shops on Northcote Rd is now a really weird mish mash of too many estate agents and bakeries, and shops like Aspiga which are beautiful to browse in, but even though we are not badly off, I would never spend that kind of money on a whim. Of course, the online shopping market continues to do well and is all so easy and accessible. It’s sad to see so many shops sitting empty. When my second was born in 2012, there was still plenty to do with toddlers, but so many classes have gone now in the area (little crafters in the lavender hill business centre, Cookease on Bolingbroke grove and tumble tots in Broomwood Methodists church hall to name just a few).

[Kirstie’s Mom]

I’ve lived South of the River for a very long time and seen lots of changes- some good some not so . Sadly I think people’s buying and living habits have changed when coupled with the cost of living and difficulty in driving and parking, people don’t visit these places anymore . Having said that I was on Sloane Street this weekend and it was a ghost town too with many shops shuttered . It’s not just in our area .
People work from home more, they don’t dress up ( seems everyone is in leggings and running tops ) so the only shops that seem to be busy on Bellvue Road are coffee and pet grooming . Chez Bruce is still difficult to get into even for lunch which is now £67 a head . So people that do have money are just spending it differently .

[gemima]

Oh bloody hell.  SDS one of the only useful shops!

[Btwmum]

We moved to a street in between the commons from Balham as we love Northcote Road and it is is cleaner, less car traffic and better shops and cafe than Balham high street while we found the house prices to be roughly comparable.
However, the decision not to close the street to cars in summer has affected the way we use the street, it is inevitable shops close when the council does everything to lower the footfall. An higher footfall during summer allows shops and cafes to weather the less busy days.
Many European families have also left due to Brexit and others have moved outside London after covid so the area has less mums and kids. However it is still busy and Northcote should attract people from tooting, Balham, Clapham. Somehow I feel they are not interested but this will result in more shop closure.

[Btwmum]

We moved to a street in between the commons from Balham as we love Northcote Road and it is is cleaner, less car traffic and better shops and cafe than Balham high street while we found the house prices to be roughly comparable.
However, the decision not to close the street to cars in summer has affected the way we use the street, it is inevitable shops close when the council does everything to lower the footfall. An higher footfall during summer allows shops and cafes to weather the less busy days.
Many European families have also left due to Brexit and others have moved outside London after covid so the area has less mums and kids. However it is still busy and Northcote should attract people from tooting, Balham, Clapham. Somehow I feel they are not interested but this will result in more shop closure.

[COOKING AT THE SHED]

SDS aren’t closing the showroom is moving to Wimbledon, 10 minute drive from Northcote Road

[COOKING AT THE SHED]

https://www.sdslondon.co.uk/sds-wimbledon-showroom

[PinkLemonade]

It really is quite sad walking down Northcote road… so many closed shops and two huge sites (old All Bar One and old Paperchase) make it look really bleak. Sadly with most of the premised owned by a couple of extremely greedy landlords it’s not surprising.

On the plus side … Molton Brown are opening in the old Caudialie site which is good !

[chorister]

Not sure that greedy landlords make much money out of empty shops - it's much more likely to be related to the reason Northcote Music closed (I know this story first hand) - someone walked in and asked about musical instruments, had a few demonstrated, had the pros and cons explained, chose one, fiddled with his phone, showed the phone to Andy Staples (who owned Nortcote Music) and said "can you match this price?" and when Andy said no just shrugged and said "well I've ordered it" and left.

If you want a thriving local community and shopping centre then you had better be willing to pay for it.

[Starr]

Have to admit I go there less and less as it doesn't have a lot to offer me other than what I can get in Balham. Would love to see this change. Yes real shame about the music shop closed soon after my children started picking up instruments. I do believe it closed out of choice though rather than struggling.

[Starr]

Im not on its doorstep and its a place I have to have a reason to go to. But I will try and shop there more as its a lovely lovely road.