Waitrose or M&S TYPE supermarket - do we want one on LL?

[James Barber]

edited to make clear that as of 3 Jan roughly 25% for, 50% against.

How do people feel about a Waitrose or M&S TYPE food store on Lordship Lane - do we want one or not -

Or something along the line of The People's Supermarket - which pulls in products made locally?

I feel it would help the area having an anchor type food store BUT can see it making Lordship Lane busier and increasing parking pressures. Too much money leaves the area to be spent in Sainsbury's etc and would it help encourage to shop more locally.

I can think of a site but wouldn't want to explore it fully without getting a feel for how East Dulwich via this forum feels about the idea.

[Otto]

Yes please.

[Earl Aelfheah]

A Waitrose would be great as far as I'm concerned.

[ratty]

No thanks! We have a massive Sainsburys and it is impossible to park anywhere near the lane as it is!

[huncamunca]

More economic apartheid - whats not to like ?

[sammyandmarco]

YES please! An M&S simply food would be great!

[Bumpkin]

I'm torn as I'd love either, BUT, only if it leaves the rest of the lane relatively unchanged. What is the likelihood that this would increase rents in the vicinity and push out the independants to be replaced by ever more chain stores?

[MichaelNx]

Yes, yes, yes of course WE want an ASPIRATIONAL food store and then all WE aspirational people won't have to rub shoulders with the annoyingly non-aspirational people who shop in Co-op and Iceland.

An added bonus will be that it might force many of those irritating little local shops and their surly shopkeepers out of business so WE won't be bothered by them anymore either.

But, James, I do think you're not being "aspirational" enough. Surely WE can do better than M&S and Waitrose?

Am also a little confused by your reference to "anchor type food store". Is that rhyming slang for something?

[Lou]

No Thanks! One of the best aspects of ED is there aren't masses of chains. If people want waitrose, they can go online. Without meaning to be rude James, I think there are probably a lot more important things for you to be thinking about / dealing with!!

[sheilarose]

No.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Oh James, a branch of Fortnum's would be wonderful.

[RosieH]

Could we instead teach people to cook so that they don't NEED a branch of M&S Simply Ready Meals?

While there might be the physical room for another supermarket, surely there isn't the need? How much food can we really really eat? Please god, no more supermarkets.

[jumpinjackflash]

What about a Harrods Food Hall? Speak to the Qatari's and see if they're up for branching out in South London..failing that, Lidl, PoundLand, Netto??

[computedshorty]

Where would it be built?

E.D. Police Station site will shortly be available.

[Twirly]

I don't think it's necessary. Between a big shop every couple of weeks in Sainsbury's, basics in the Co-op on a weekly basis, more unusual stuff from SMBS and my veggies from Pretty Traditional, LL covers just about everything I need. If you really want Waitrose, do an Ocado order. If you really want M&S, there seems to be a food place at most of the major stations in London these days.

I worry that it would be the start of rents going up and the independents moving out. I know it's probably inevitable, but I'd like to see the homogenisation of LL held off for as long as possible.

[Bumpkin]

I think the key word in James' post is 'anchor', meaning it would then attract the other chains...

[genwilliams]

Despite my knee-jerk reaction of 'Oooh yes please' I think actually the folks speaking against it are right. LL has character & is the heart of the area and the beginnings of an array of chain stores could only weaken that. Sainsburys has everything anyone needs grocerywise (and is hardly shabby) and I would not like to see places like the farm shop and William Rose forced out of business by another big name on Lordship Lane.

[Otto]

I don't think a waitrose or m&s would eliminate any of the good little shops...most of them fill distinctive niches. I shop at all of them and...Ocado. Ocado would suffer.

[indiepanda]

I would quite like a little M&S, for those times I am feeling too lazy to cook but don't want to get a takeaway - want to get something nice with healthier options.

But what I'd really like to see is a weekly farmers market in the area. Once a month in Dulwich isn't enough to really make using it part of your regular shop. And I agree with the comments about wanting to keep the lane much as it is - I like the lack of chain stores - gives it individual character. If M&S were to be the start of a big change I'd rather survive without.

[peterstorm1985]

I find it very odd that the title of this thread is "aspirational supermarket" and then the suggestions are M&S or Waitrose. What's so aspirational about them?

OK, so they are much better managed than the Co-Op and the prices are hardly different if you compare like for like goods (I find the Co-Op to be shockingly expensive compared to Sainsbury's).

I'd happily say yes to either but only if it replaced the Co-Op store. I can see no value simply in having another supermarket on LL. We don't have the parking spaces. That said, if you're thinking of a redevelopment of the police station, the footprint does provide the possibility of underground parking, and if this was a planning requirement then I might be persuaded.

If persuaded, my vote would be for M&S as it's product range is narrower and less likely to destroy the local independents

[Keef]

I'm interested to know what site you have in mind James?

Perhaps as a local councillor, you should busy yourself with representing everyone, not just the aspiational types, who you feel comfortable with.

[Twirly]

peterstorm1985 Wrote:

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

> If persuaded, my vote would be for M&S as it's

> product range is narrower and less likely to

> destroy the local independents

That's a really good point.

[steveo]

Several shops around the LL Sainsburys are going down the Swanee and are up for sale if that's what you aspire to

[ClareC]

Would love a Waitrose instead of the Coop, agree only shop to suffer would be ocado!

[Dickensman]

I second Peckhamgatecrasher, for a branch of Fortnum's!

I have never heard this term 'aspirational supermarket' before,

after all it's just another shop peddling it's wares James.