Starbucks gone

Wmum · Postby **Wmum** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 11:04 am

Noticed that Starbucks Balham has shut down. Any ideas as to what will replace it?
Hopefuly not another hairdressers...

Abbmun · Postby **Abbmun** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 1:09 pm

That’s interesting. Starbucks on the Abbeville Road is closing down too.

foodeditorjo · Postby **foodeditorjo** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 1:12 pm

Great news! We need to encourage small independent coffee shops - and there are loads of good ones.

Denwand · Postby **Denwand** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 1:57 pm

foodeditorjo wrote:Great news! We need to encourage small independent coffee shops - and there are loads of good ones.

Agree 100% !

Goldhawk · Postby **Goldhawk** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 3:53 pm

I heard a rumour that the Balham branch will be replaced with a celebrity-backed restaurant

The rent on the unit is £165K pa!! I dread to think what the business rates are

house-renovation · Postby **house-renovation** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 5:44 pm

foodeditorjo wrote:Great news! We need to encourage small independent coffee shops - and there are loads of good ones.

That's absolutely right! Thank you!

Abbmun · Postby **Abbmun** » Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:27 pm

The landlord of the Abbeville Road branch has apparently significantly raised rents (I heard to 60k) which even Starbucks couldn’t make work so I agree not much hope for independents.. Abbeville Road is also losing a few other shops and restaurants (independents) due to the rate hike

Jen66 · Postby **Jen66** » Thu Jan 04, 2018 1:49 pm

I think it must be pretty hard for any coffee shop to thrive in Balham.

Unless they have a big trade in takeaways/passing commuters, then surely they're just full of home workers on laptops and mums with buggies who hog a table and only spend a few quid?