Comments on: At Maison Dellys, Columbia Rd

By: sprite

sprite — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 18:40:23 +0000

Went to say good bye not realising that I had been in this cafe a lot in the past when working at Mildmay quite a few years ago.
Might have had the last sandwich served on the 30th as it had been very busy before we arrived.
Glad me and my friend made it just in time.

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 12:30:48 +0000

Reading this article makes me furious about the lack of support local businesses receive from politicians who make promises before they are elected.
Farid you’re a top man and I’m sure better things are in store for you, we will definitely miss your food which mirrors your personality – humble and homely. Best wishes for the future mate!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 10:55:38 +0000

Farid, you have been a great person to know, and extremely helpful and obliging to us all at the hospital. You have always helped out at the last minute when I get on the phone to you and place orders. Nothing is too much for you. You have made a lot of friends over the 11 years here, and will be really missed by us all. Joel who is in India was sad to hear that you closing, and has fond memories of the Cajun chicken. Kathy will miss you too and the lunch time music.

I hope you find something local to us and that we are able to continue using your services. I personally will miss you very much, and want to thank you for all the help and all support you have given. Take care. Sharon

By: Juley

Juley — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 09:05:01 +0000

This is so sad and such a great loss to the community….thank you gentle author for shining a light on this and so many other important local issues.

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 11:14:56 +0000

This happens all the time here in the States in every major city: New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, LA etc etc. I hope he can reopen in a new location and to be honest: unless a small brick and mortar business sets out to eventually buy and own their building they will always be at the mercy of a landlord. I hope he can find a property to buy because then he will truly have buisness assets.

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 08:05:36 +0000

Don’t just blame the landlord – he’s operating in a property market that has been shamelessly inflated into another bubble by a government that is steeped in ‘free’ market economics.

By: Suraya Schneebeli

Suraya Schneebeli — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 06:45:09 +0000

Such sad times. This is a crime! An increase of more than double your yearly rent? It’s sickening. Where are our/your rights? Human rights! This also happens in the housing market. It’s ludicrous to think that we have to just accept this.
I wish you and your family well. There’s nothing more to say except this is so sad. 🙁

By: Karen Cheung

Karen Cheung — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 10:41:36 +0000

This is such a sorry tale of what’s happening in London. When the ‘rich’ have taken over I hope they realise nothing of the culture and character of the area they’re buying into will remain.
I live and work in Hackney and most of the neighbours around our Shoreditch studio when we moved in back in 2012, many of whom had been here over a decade, have completely changed.
Thank you for this story and all the best to Farid. Keep us posted on future plans.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 09:02:32 +0000

I have been to this cafe and can say how kind the staff are to their customers

No point blaming the government or gentrification of the area. The cafe is in itself a sign of the rise of the area socially. It is local people who choose to use the chains rather than local shops!

I will try to go and say Goodbye. These are lovely people and in the end they will thrive, although perhaps not in monetary terms!

By: Caroline Gilfillan

Caroline Gilfillan — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 07:59:04 +0000

Thanks for this piece. I’m so frustrated that we live in a country where market forces dictate the fate of brilliant and successful small businesses like this. The dismantling of rent controls and support for small businesses is disastrous for people like Farid. Starting to lobby landlords is a good idea.