Comments on: Les Bobrow, Wood ‘N’ Things

By: Cherub

Cherub — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 21:21:47 +0000

It’s so sad when shops like this go as it’s so nice to be able to give a child a traditional toy to play with. I used to buy wooden toys from a shop in Edinburgh, then one days I went and it had just suddenly closed down.

As I worked just round the corner from Spitalfields Market for a few years before returning home to Scotland I’m upset to read they want to make the market more like a shopping mall with High St chains. This will rip the heart and soul out of the place as half the fun of whiling away my lunch hour was visiting the funny little shops there. There was a second hand book shop I especially loved as I’d manage to get things in there that were out of print.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:56:10 +0000

Ballymore are mad. At least two examples of towns in northern England prove it. Both chucked traditional stalls from their market halls, transformed the whole thing into the typical ‘shopping mall experience’…. and found the chain stores didn’t want to stay, because neither did the customers. Too many other, and bigger branches nearby. The result, in once case, is that the landlord is now offering premises rent-free to try to staunch the hemorrhage of shops. Meanwhile, those much appreciated local shops have gone to the wall, or in some cases succeeded in transforming themselves into internet businesses. Not an option for Les, I’m guessing.

By: Rowena Macdonald

Rowena Macdonald — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:55:12 +0000

Good luck. Ballymore clearly have no soul and no clue.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:40:12 +0000

This is dreadful. I live in Spitalfields and do not want the market to be full of chains I can go to the West End for that. I love this shop and have bought many items here for my godson.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:12:27 +0000

It is outrageous that this is happening to Les’s shop. He is one of the best shops in the market and always has been. Over the years since he’s been in the market, I have spent many a lunch-time buying from him for either my children or myself. He certainly does bring people to the market and the shop is always packed whenever I’ve visited. I’ve sent many a colleague his way.

If the powers-that-be decide they only want big name high street shops then I for one will be voting with my feet and wouldn’t be visiting the market anymore. It’s the small independent shops that make the market so special. Shopping malls are ten-a-penny!

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:59:05 +0000

East End Trades Guild, here’s your man. After next Monday’s Launch and you are officially up and running then Wood n Things will be an urgent case. But so will all the others. Oh dear. Good luck, Les, and sorry all your hard work has come to this. Power to the People.