Golden City chippy on Whateley Rd

[KidKruger]

Anyone know what happened to the Cantonese guy who ran the chippy ?

Years ago his old Mum used to help out behind the fryers.

I know the place has been sold on now, but I wonder about him and whether he?s OK.

He had a stroke a few years ago, which slowed him down a bit but he was still popping up to Chinatown to teach Cantonese to the little ?uns nevertheless.

[asfeeley]

You must be talking about the 1980s - at least that's the last time I remember going there before it closed. Deep fried spare ribs with chips were a dream. As to your query, though, I can't help. You know more about him than me. All I remember was the food and his very basic grasp of English (if we are talking about the same person). I wish I could find a place that makes the food as good as it used to be there.

[singalto]

It closed just after I moved to ED in 1993...

[KidKruger]

Yeah it closed in the 90s. I thought a bit later than ?93, I would see the chap around and we?d chat after the chippy stopped trading.

[redjam]

Anyone know what is happening to the building itself? I thought it had been sold last year and there seems to be work going on in the building next door but nothing appears to be happening in the actual chippy on the corner. It's such an eyesore...

[jimbo1964]

It used to be our chippy of choice.

[cohen22]

He has lived in California for years. He always rejects offers on the property.

[JoeLeg]

While of course it?s his property and his business what he does with it, I?ve always wondered why he holds onto it in such a ramshackle state? If it?s because he wants to let his kids inherit it, surely some kind of maintenance would be beneficial?

Each to their own of course. Personally I don?t object to the visual nature of it, I?m just perplexed as to why it?s like that when there is no perceptible upside to it.

[Sue]

I thought it was for sale by auction not that long ago?

And when the sign came down, I presumed it had been sold?

[Lowlander]

The top piece of glass in the one of the first floor windows looks like it is going to fall out shortly. In the absence of anyone living there I did drop an email to building control over a year ago, but heard nothing back.

Is it just me?

[KidKruger]

I think the property has changed hands.

Not convinced it?s been empty for years though, doesn?t seem that long at all since I last saw him.

[se22cat]

He used to make fantastic chips and there was plenty of competition, with the chip shop next to the butchers opposite what's now Meat Liquor which also had a sister shop on Northcross road and iirc there was a pretty decent one on Barry road in those days, too.

[Sue]

Lowlander Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The top piece of glass in the one of the first

> floor windows looks like it is going to fall out

> shortly. In the absence of anyone living there I

> did drop an email to building control over a year

> ago, but heard nothing back.

>

> Is it just me?

I saw that today.

The bottom part of the window frame has rotted and come away from the glass.

I agree it's an accident waiting to happen but I have no idea who it should be reported to.

Also, worryingly near kids coming to and from the school.

[Bic Basher]

se22cat Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> He used to make fantastic chips and there was

> plenty of competition, with the chip shop next to

> the butchers opposite what's now Meat Liquor which

> also had a sister shop on Northcross road and iirc

> there was a pretty decent one on Barry road in

> those days, too.

I'm trying to remember what that chippie was called in North Cross Road? My mother's friend worked in there.

[solar]

It was called ossies. Used to go there mid to late 60s.

[se22cat]

I'm pretty sure in the 80s it had the same name as the one next to the newsagent opposite what was then, one of 3 local Place Bakeries stores. I remember at one point the price of a bag of chips went up every couple of weeks for some reason...

[Mrs D]

Lowlander Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The top piece of glass in the one of the first

> floor windows looks like it is going to fall out

> shortly. In the absence of anyone living there I

> did drop an email to building control over a year

> ago, but heard nothing back.

>

> Is it just me?

I emailed James Barber when he was a councillor about the window. He said he had reported it to the Council but no action had been taken.

[KidKruger]

I think I saw the Chinese chippy guy crossing LL on Saturday afternoon, he had His walking stick and was clean shaven which is unusual in my experience. As a result he looked a bit younger !

[Lolamaxx]

I walk past this place all the time, have been since 2006, always wondering what's going to become of it... I think we'd enjoy another chippy there, perhaps Mr Liu wouldn't enjoy the competition of another Chinese restaurant, however! It does seem like a bit of a wasted opportunity, especially as there's a school right across the way. Not advocating crap food for kids, just a bit of livening up of the back streets behind LL!

[Planetsally]

There are plans submitted to Southwark for change of use to residential. Proposal is for 3 separate flats, ground floor will have shop frontage removed and become 2 bed flat with 2 x 1 bed flats on next 2 levels.

https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=externalDocuments&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9579380

[KidKruger]

And, I presume, the building to rear will become a separate house ?

[Planetsally]

Yep, plans already approved for a separate house which will be extended upwards to match the heighth of its neighbour on Whately Rd.

[lavender27]

That's amazing as I only walked past there yesterday and thought to myself someone should do something with that plaice. Pardon the pun.

[Reg Smeeton]

Good to see builders hard at work restoring the building that was the 'Golden City' chippy - they've already removed the crumbling pebble dash to reveal the old brickwork.

[Sue]

Excellent! That place has been an eyesore for years!