Supporting Local Shops

[tarynlondon]

I've just been reading a book about the negative impact large supermarket corporations have on local communities....

I have been regularly shopping at Sainsburys and Tesco Express since I moved into East Dulwich (nearly 2 years ago) but for the last few weeks I have avoided them to support local shops instead. I would like to continue this new trend but I need a little help to find everything I need...

Can anyone recommend some favourite local shops to meet weekly shopping needs??? Thanks a lot! :)

[SeanMacGabhann]

whoo hooo tarynlondon... you have hit a forum nerve there! (tis a subject that crops up regularly)

Leaving aside the politics of the large supermarkets for a moment, some recommended local shops (not bars/restuarants etc) I use are:

SMBS foods (opposite Barclays Bank)

Val's supermarket (opposite library) not some special deli but friendly Nisha behind the counter, her recipe suggestions and the Irish black pudding

Mrs Robinson - for the odd furniture piece

William Rose - for meat unimagined in supermarket-land

DIY shop opposite the Bishop

Turkish foodshop near there

G&B wine shop

The Kitchen Shop - next to EDT - seriously expensive but I have bought some genuinely last-me-a-lifetime stuff there

Grace & Favour on Northcross Rd for chocolate

AJ Farmers for the bits n bobs stuff you might buy in supermarket (scubbers, batteries, etc)

there are others - but for now...

[kford]

Plough DIY for bigger DIY jobs, like painting, coving, tiles. Very helpful, unlike B&Q.

Moxon's Fish Counter - they know their - daily-landed - fish and shudder at the very thought of shoppers buying from a supermarket (apparently their fish is at least two days old before it hits the shelves)

That Turkish shop is a late night gem for rare foodstuffs.

The friendly dry cleaners by the post office. (I dare say the new Sainburys will be competing on that front)

Bell's Bathrooms - Good for plumbing needs too.

[Marmora Man]

Endorse all the above and:

The Cheese Block - wide selection cheeses at fair prices with knowledgeable staff

The bread & cakes stall on Northcross Road - excellent sourdough and other breads - beats mass produced supermarket pap, only my wife's homemade bread is better.

The meat stall on Northcross Road - smaller than William Rose, less stock - same quaity and flavour

Blue Mountain Cafe - better than Sainsbury's Starb**** (tho Dulwich Mum will disagree)

The "Pound Shop" beside Gourmet Burger Bar - useful for little odds & sods, sellotapae, lamp bulbs, cotton.

The stationery supplies shop next to EDT. Friendly and helpful staff.

[ghostlymaiden]

I endorse all of the above.

[Ultraconsultancy]

Tarynlondon - welcome to the new economics.

Every time an indie shopkeeper hears a story like yours s/he whispers

"One more of us; one less of them."

Have a cheery and local shopping day.

UC

[Jeremy]

William Rose and Moxons are my favorite shops in ED. I also like SMBS, Pretty Traditional, and the Turkish Shop for fruit and veg. I'd like to use these shops all the time... but when it's 8pm on a Wednesday night and I get home realising I have no food, it really has to be Sainsburys or Safeways.

[lozzyloz]

Are there any local/indie shops locals would recommend to steer clear of?

[Louisa]

AJ Farmers is not a "Pound Shop" and if I were the family who had invested in that business locally for the last 65 years (yes it is that old) i'd be a bit miffed by people calling it that. I guess to newcomers that shop is cheap compared to what they usually buy.

I recommend Le Moulin for a good evening meal

CSM Dry Cleaners

Udens Funeral Services (just incase)

The Co-operative chemist (very friendly staff)

[Ultraconsultancy]

Do please be careful lozzyloz - positive recommendations are one thing, but negative comments might just be down to frictional differences between the customer and shop!

[Marmora Man]

Forgot to add Macey's Chemist on Northcross Road - excellent staff, very helpful. They deliver prescriptions to my housebound father-in-law and always remember him and ask how he is when I go in. Plus they stock a range of products seldom found in a "standard" chemists.

[lozzyloz]

Thanks Ultra. Just curious. I went to a newly reopened restaurant in ED yesterday which serves food of a particular nation and was shocked to find that the "authentic" ingredients used were more reminiscent of a Sunday Roast at the C&G. Perhaps that's how they keep costs down for the less poncey EDers like me!

[Marmora Man]

Louisa Wrote:

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

> AJ Farmers is not a "Pound Shop" and if I were the

> family who had invested in that business locally

> for the last 65 years (yes it is that old) i'd be

> a bit miffed by people calling it that. I guess to

> newcomers that shop is cheap compared to what they

> usually buy.

>

> I recommend Le Moulin for a good evening meal

> CSM Dry Cleaners

> Udens Funeral Services (just incase)

> The Co-operative chemist (very friendly staff)

My apologies to AJ Farmers - had never noiced the name and was using the term "pound Shop" as a generic not perjorative description. MAny storage boxes and "odds & sods" have been purchased by Marmora family there.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

There is Jamaican restaurant called 'Lincoln's Inn' on Maxted Road, just before you get to Belleneden Road that always looks shut (but isn't he's just a bit shy!) and really good food at a very reasonable price. It's a one man operation so service isn't always as quick as you might like, but Lincoln is a great cook and a really nice guy. He does some English food too.

Only downside is that it's not open on Sundays.

[david_carnell]

Is there a fruit and veg shop that is cheaper than Pretty Traditional and the organic place opposite Barclays?

Are they still called green-grocers? You never hear that term any more.

[Ted Max]

Yep, Lincoln's Inn on the increasingly fashionable, desirable and select Maxted Road is pretty good.

Interesting that the hairdresser two doors down also always looks shut. Saving on the leccy I guess.

I've been lucky to live close to some great corner shops in this area as well. George and Lily on Pellatt Road/CPR corner were fantastic. There's a little shop on Maxted Road that is fab as well. I think these places are at least as important to local cohesion as the bigger name places. And they're great sources of gossip too.

[Nero]

I'd never say fruit and veg shop - too many syllables compared to greengrocer, which is a bit shorter and a much more handsome word. Nero

[JoeChuff]

AJ Farmer is amazing, they sell EVERYTHING. The day they sell up and become a wine bar is the day I pack up and leave ED!

[Gerrard]

I too am a big fan of A J Farmer. The young guy that serves in there has often made me laugh with his dead-pan style humour. Give me that over traipsing around the aisles of Sainsbury any day...

[ClareC]

I like all the above ...... just wish I could use them more often.

I would love to support local shops and avoid supermarkets.... unfortunately the opening hours dont really work well as they are not open when I leave in the morning and are closed when I return. Which leaves Saturdays ........ not always around then and fresh things are much better, well fresh!

[*Bob*]

david_carnell Wrote:

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

> Is there a fruit and veg shop that is cheaper than

> Pretty Traditional and the organic place opposite

> Barclays?

I think Pretty Traditional is reasonably priced and the quality is good. If we bought all our fruit and veg in SMBS we'd need a second mortgage. So it's PT for most things and SMBS for the speciality stuff we can't get in PT.

[Jeremy]

The Turkish shop is good value for fruit and veg (only a small selection though).

[Tazzi]

Nice 1 tary the shops in East Dulwich are very independant and all work well together.The nice peeps at Healthmatters are always giving me good advice regardless if i buy or not plus they are open sundays,essential for emergencies,SMBS are so helpful with foods and what grains go with what meats and fish.I live in Nunhead but i am now a shopper in East Dulwich.

[geh]

I know it's not ED, but most of the usual suspects are named above. I would suggest all go to Sopers in Nunhead. Frankly, the quality and variety bring me close to tears every time I go there!

geh

[Ko]

Good corner shops include the one on library end of Lordship Lane (on the corner with Landells Rd - also has a post office there) and the one on Barry Rd (at about the Upland Rd junction). Also Vals near the library. SMBs is always good.

Moxons Fishmongers are always very helpful. As is William Rose Butchers. Turkish grocers is also good.

Buy my birthday cards etc from Greetings (next to Somerfield).

Plough DIY (by Dulwich Library) is very well-stocked and will always help you out with advice, even though they are always very busy - really nice they offer such a personal service.

AJ Farmers has good kitchen accessories, cleaning stuff etc - always very helpful if you need to unblock a drain or get a stain out of something.

Dulwich Garden Centre stocks all the gardening essentials so you don't have to go to B&Q.

Today I did use Somerfield, but I also used the fishmongers, Macey's chemist, bought earrings at the Northcross Rd market, used Dulwich Library and used the post office at LL library end.

Happy shopping!