Comments on: The East End Trades Guild needs you!

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:31:36 +0000

Same as Covent Garden in the 70’s I worked a lot in Studio B studios and there was the Brahms and Liszt wine bar the Zanzibar and a few good shops… look at it now…fashion tourista!!

By: Save The London Fruit and Wool Exchange

Save The London Fruit and Wool Exchange — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:24:06 +0000

This is a wonderful initiative. The 1929 Exchange, currently under threat of demolition, houses many ‘SME’s (Small and Medium Enterprises) and these would all be lost; that would also affect Spitalfields Market as some of these Exchange businesses/tenants have stalls in the market. The Old Market itself is already in crisis with spiralling rents and corporate-style management.
If the Exchange goes, it will be replaced by a new office block that the developers have stated they will lease to a single tenant, a corporation like Apple or Google. We need buildings that support the diversity that is Spitalfields. The Exchange could be retained and keep on offering spaces, offices and studios for small businesses, designers, makers – while also adding some new (independent!) shops. Open the beautiful building up once restored, and watch visitors flock to a new heritage destination in East London.
The Old Market too needs support, as so many interesting stalls/small businesses have had to leave or have been forced to leave as they cannot survive the corporate cosh.
The East End Trades Guild is a great idea for small businesses from all over Tower Hamlets. Together we are stronger…yes!

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:48:32 +0000

Good luck. It seems an uphill struggle, in Spitalfields, in England and in Europe generally. It’s a battle worth fighting, but it seems so unending, with so many defeats along the way.

By: Amy Anderson

Amy Anderson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:34:07 +0000

How refreshing to read this. I have one of the shops on Cheshire Street- Comfort Station – and I’ve been there for 8 years now. Its been wonderful watching the street grow and very sad watching it empty. We are only hanging on in there because my rent review isn’t for a couple more years. Looking forward to the meeting!

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:25:45 +0000

Am very heartened to see this. The alarming tide of commercial activity which is endeavouring to engulf the area, and with it the character of Spitalfields is concerning. Wishing every success to The East End Trades Guild and all the small independent trades and businesses which are such an integral part of the essence of Spitalfields life.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:55:24 +0000

Great article . . .

By: Rebecca Mitchell

Rebecca Mitchell — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:18:16 +0000

Here in the US we have seen many neighborhoods in our cities and towns ruined by greedy landlords, driving out the small shops and trades. In sad irony, the big chain shops that take over are seldom reliable tenants — departing with the latest downturn in the economy or consumer whim. In London, the antiques stalls at Antiquarius were lost to a greedy landlord who installed a banal Anthropologie store in the historic building. Why was there no organized protest from Chelsea residents?

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:12:54 +0000

Brilliant piece.
You spurred me to write this: http://www.janeslondon.com/2012/04/small-traders-livelihoods-threatened.html

By: M

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:53:05 +0000

Great stuff…thank you!

By: aubrey

aubrey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:15:31 +0000

Depressing. Whenever I visit the area (which is fairly frequently), I notice that the changes are becoming ever more rapid. The area’s character seems to have all but disappeared. Where are the ‘weekday’ small stall holders? Where have the Sunday bric-a-brac sellers gone? ‘Luxury Flats for sale’. Is it not far off that we’ll see separated gated housing appearing in the area?