Comments on: The Corner Shops of Spitalfields

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 16:21:24 +0000

I was born in Chicksand House in 1964, just off Chicksand and Spelman Streets. My family used Zara’s daily and most of the other shops around there. I visit the area often and walk around. I went to Robert Montyfury School as a kid, its changed its name now but is still there..thanks..

By: Dilu shy.

Dilu shy. — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:16:18 +0000

Great work keep up your hard work. Dil shy. Brick lane minicab and courier.

By: Fernando

Fernando — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:25:55 +0000

+1 to Margaret
Also, the same goes for coffee shops. It saddens me to see street after street populated by the big chains. An independent coffee shop that delivers both in quality and human customer service beats any chain hands down.

By: paul

paul — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:37:56 +0000

Thanks for a great story. I’ve been a devotee of the Corner Shop all my life and I hope to corner shop ’till the day I die when I’ll go to corner shops in the sky.

Check out Jonathan Richmans’ homage the the corner store on his aptly titled song, Corner Store.

Well I walked past just yesterday
And I couldn’t bear that new mall no more
I can’t expect you all to see it my way
But you may not know what was there before
And I want them to put back my old corner store.

Well I walked past just like I say
And I felt this hurt that would not go home
I can’t expect that you’re gonna see it my way
But you may not know the trees I’ve known
And I want them to put back my old corner store.

I know it costs more money to shop there
But this was love, this was love
I know you had to pay more money
I’ll pay money, I’ll pay more
I don’t care what the mall has got
I want back that corner store

And what did I feel when I walked by slow
Sorrow sorrow, all around
Why I would feel sorrow I now know
I smell a ghost smell from the ground
That old wooden smell from the old corner store

I walked past one final time
And I wished the worst on the place I shop
Now I can’t expect everyone to feel like I am
But I spot a trend that has got to stop
And I want them to put back that old corner store

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:32:51 +0000

While supermarkets are here to stay, and clearly meet a need in busy lives, we’d be foolish to let our independent shops fade away and die. Our local shops provide personal service and human contact, and will often source things especially for us. They don’t expect us to buy multi-packs we don’t especially want, and they’re usually in our own community – just a short walk away. We should use them: once they’ve closed their doors forever, they won’t be replaced. AND the money spent there circulates in our own community. Spend it in Tesco et al and it goes into their central coffers.

By: MARIA

MARIA — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:19:39 +0000

i really enjoyed this post, matthew – and the photos, sarah
these places have provided people with a livelihood for so long, and i believe that they will continue to do so, because people have realised they do not want to feel like robots, and this is one way of making sure that they can feel human, by making purchases at a corner shop

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:36:59 +0000

These are Aladdin’s Caves, what a fantastic array of goods. All those things you didn’t know you needed.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:30:11 +0000

Wonderful story and beautiful photographs…
I buy my AA batteries on the corner of fashion street every Sunday morning, what nice chaps they are.