What DO we want on Northcote Road??? Locked

[TupeloHoney]

I'm just as disappointed as many of you are about the fact that Capital Carpets has gone only to be replaced by yet another estate agents, and like it or loathe it, Crumpet had to be better than Phase Eight?!! Not that I have anything against Phase Eight, but surely one on Bellevue Rd is enough? And the hoarding boasts about opening a new shop every fortnight... call me cynical, but isn't that just asking for trouble during a recession? Am I missing something? Is it that popular?

So my question is... is there anything that Northcote Road is crying out for? I really miss Deli Organic (still! even though that's going back a few years now) and Whole Foods seems a bit soul-less to me. What I'd love to see is an Asian food market.

What about everyone else?

TH

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

A cash machine that doesn't charge you to take money out.

[Goldhawk]

Capital Carpets hasn't gone though, just moved

[WandsworthResident]

I'd love to see a good gardening supplies (not just plants) and hardware store.

A proper chocolatier would be fab but that's just me being greedy.

I still think there's room for a good child-friendly cafe as Crumpet was when it first opened and before standards slipped.

Now we've lost Currys on St John's Road & Euronics on Lavender Hill there might be some call for good quality electronic goods & gadgets.

I suspect that rents are too high for all of the above though, and footfall possibly not high enough. So we may end up slipping still further into chains and estate agents. Oh and "shiny things" shops aka "dust gatherer suppliers" - they don't seem to have any problems keeping going here!

[juliantenniscoach]

Interestingly enough we had a deli but it closed. Why was that? Well for me it was great but pricey for my pocket for everyday needs. Bearing in mind there's a Waitrose down the road my business often went there.

The demographic around here has changed dramatically over the last 10 years and so has the buying habits. Chains like Phase Eight aren't dim, they must have done the maths and figured that there are enough buyers to justify expansion (not me clearly ) Now I'm not a discerning buyer of womens' clothing but I struggle to see the difference between many of the shops on Northcote Road, though I feel I'm about to be shot down in flames!

I understand the rent for Hamptons/Capital Carpets is £120K PA. That's a lot of money but easily covered by 2 sales of any house around here in a year. So in a way we've created our own situation. A good deli would be fab but given the rents could they price their products at a price we'd buy them?

Talking of price £5.45 for a black coffee and a latte at Gails. Now that's steep no? That's their price point to make money here, which kind of supports my point of view. God knows how Tony's do it but long may they continue.

[Batsneedfriends]

Always wondered ... why no Pizza Express?

[elizad]

A really good Chinese restaurant that does dim sum like Royal China.....there doesnt seem to be anything this side of the river.

[juliantenniscoach]

there's a pizza express on lavender hill so I guess that they'd have to close one to open another. chinese hmm........good call though Good Earth do delivery and are good but pricey. best bowl good value takeaway too as my waistline can witness.

I really miss the CD shop that was on lavender then st.john's road but I'm old fashioned, geeky and think downloads are poor quality. I guess we are pretty well served locally aren't we? but please no more estate agents or womens clothes shops.

[Honeymummy]

I would like to see Debenhams replaced by Selfridges or Harvey Nichols. Sorry, I find DBH depressing. Or a large art gallery/museum with children's things. & Laduree to replace Paul !

[tinkerbell100]

A new deli is coming apparently to the Northcote Rd! To replace Stem and Petal. I saw some guys coming out of the property and got the news straight from the horses mouth...

[supergirl]

I would love for a proper fish monger to come back. The guys in the van are nice (poor them, told me they were freezing) but i would prefer to walk in a shop with some aquarium (you can choose your fish AND fab for the kid to see the fish - i used to live near the sea where all fish mongers are line that) and a good variety of choice! Although i love them, i am bored to death with cod, haddock, sea bass, ray wings, etc. all the stalls around are the same... I'd love a turbot!
I would love a proper art and craft shop but with the one at tooting bec and the internet, i suppose that would make it irrelevant. Maybe partriges could increase their range more.
Also i agree, i am bored with debenhams. I d love for St John rd and lavender hill to go a bit more upmarket!

[txmum]

Agree re: Debenhams. I just wish they would upgrade their range. Is it too much to ask to stock a shoe that isn't pleather?

In an ideal world, I'd love to see a cafe like Crumpet, albeit with more comfortable chairs and other issues addressed. There are very few places on Northcote that don't feel like an imposition wheeling my pram in. Crumpet had a wide aisle and space for the kids to roam. I end up defaulting to All Bar One for no other reason than they're roomy.

I do understand that the rents are extortionate and preclude many small businesses from setting up shop on Northcote. Shame, as the local villagey feel is precisely what makes it so attractive. Will it turn into just another high street?

[Karin1979]

Oooh Honeymummy, I love your choice of shops ... That would be ideal for me too ... Somehow I don't see it happen!! But, we can wish hey!!

[workingmum62]

100% agree with comments about Henneseys.

I also love the people on the veg stall, I always find them to be friendly and their veg is yummy.

Re fish shop - try Moxons at Clapham South, they have a great selection and the guys in their are great.

For a good Chinese try http://www.chinaboulevard.com/ a Chinese friend recommended it for Sunday dim sum and it was full of Chinese people which is always a good sign. We loved it!

[KatherineHepburn]

A bank! Or at least a free cash machine!