I've also heard about the planning permission re: Bertie and Boo closing, the Northcote Road and Soft Play sites are not affected so should remain open!
The manager of the Gazette was grinning from ear to ear when I saw him last week emptying the restaurant. They have other sites, so expect the staff will work in the other sites at the moment. Balham Daily PRSS reported that the Gazette does love Balham and plans to be back, but yes £100k is the rent.
BEW said they had outgrown the space.
Mango Bottoms had tried crowd funding in August, they hadn't expected to pay for so much maintenance on the building as yes, we pay rent, but we also have to pay for all the work inside our shop units.
On the plus side, there are signs of life on Bedford Hill with Pirana opening and on Balham High Road, next to my shop (number 76) is having a lot of hammering going on and looks like it'll be a takeaway (I hope it's a lovely one), what was Best One and what was the Glass Shop near to Movers and Shapers both have had signs of life. Over the summer holidays, the former Independent Mind Body and Soul has opened as Proud Thai Spa.
I'm hoping that the businesses that are here will continue to be supported and that the new ones will be supported. Then we can all stay open for you
I've also heard that Fork and Ale is closing - I bet no one even knows what that is - the pub by the Post Office that has changed it's name and been redecorated with new staff and new managers at least four times during the over 4 years that my shop has been trading (under it's two names, but it's been me changing from Franchisee to Independent shop rather than new management!)
