Comments on: Zareena Malik, Spitalfields Market Trader

By: Natasha Kundi

Natasha Kundi — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 12:34:58 +0000

UPDATE: My mum Zareena was allowed to go back to the market but wasn’t allowed to sell what she used to sell. She’s had a huge financial loss. She had to change her products which didn’t do very well. After the market increased its rent she was forced to leave again. Now she is in Old Spitalfields Market (different from the market in question) selling hand knitted items and kids toys which isn’t doing very well. It’s had a toll on her mental health but she won’t stop because she is very brave and strong. Thank you everyone for your support. We really appreciate it.

By: Jimmy cuba

Jimmy cuba — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 20:17:24 +0000

In the old days, the markets were a place where ANYONE with no formal education and a little english could start work with very little income and build a business with hard work and determination.

Spitalfields = corporate greed nepotism and bullying

The Corporation of London should hold their heads in shame for allowing the mismanagement of what was once going to be a community asset

People at the bottom who want to work for themselves should be allowed the opportunity

Where are you Sadiq Khan! Get on the case!

It is not new – what is happening in spitalfields been going on there for 20 years

Management beware!

Jimmy Cuba will Return I know all your old tricks and who you are…

By: Ron Bunting

Ron Bunting — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 14:56:07 +0000

There must have been a class at the western worlds universities around five-ten years ago,teaching architecture and marketing students about malls and ways to improve rental incomes. Why? because every where across the western world the same damn thing is happening. Bohemian style markets are being closed down because the food outlets who were moved in to increase the land lords income are failing.Failing , because their products are too expensive and highly pretentious ,and those rents rise every 18 months,eating up most of the profits. If we wanted to shop for stuff in malls we would go to the nearest Westfeilds or who ever and burn the plastic. But if it means fresh veges and interesting nick knacks then it was always markets .Such a pity the Spitalfeilds markets are being wiped out by the self appointed,over paid arbiters of marketing genius.

By: Vita

Vita — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:27:59 +0000

Nooooo, after the heart-warming positivity of Wednesday’s Roman Road post, today’s account has plummeted us back to the reality with this miserable report of market management and its bullying. I’m not shocked just appalled and continually saddened but also want to underscore Julia Harrison’s point about the happenings at South End Green because I live close by too. Network Rail is pressuring long standing businesses into unaffordable rent demands with reckless disregard for community needs. Once lost, never recovered. The wreckage of what Spitalfields Market once was is a disgrace and seriously, is this what visitors believe London to be…..no words except to offer commiserations and support to Zareena and her family.

By: Charles C

Charles C — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:25:45 +0000

I really dislike the food orientation in the market now, it has killed the soul of the space. It was bad enough when more and more closed events started arriving. I was probably one of those visitors that higher price stuff was aimed at but to me it has become uninteresting except perhaps for the thursday antiques.

By: Adele Lester

Adele Lester — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 11:41:34 +0000

So sorry this is happening in a much beloved area of London. I moved to the US many years ago, but just returned on a quick trip to London after a four year absence and noticed how ‘Americanized’ and modernized everything is becoming .. from the pubs to the street markets, I felt as though I could be anywhere in the world. Sad loss of identity, as this story bares out. Wish this hardworking lady good luck – hope people pick up her cause and she gets her pitch back.
(Granddaughter and niece of ex East End market traders who worked in all kinds of weather to make a meager living).

By: bellehelen

bellehelen — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 11:06:53 +0000

How sad. Spitalfields has lost its soul.

By: Andrew Plume

Andrew Plume — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 10:58:43 +0000

Sad stuff – am I surprised sadly not………………

20 years ago and before when there was the Indoor Football Pitch, it was completely different but as soon as Hammerson combined with the Corporation decided to basically chop a third out of the then building so that the new headquarters for Allen & Overy could be built it was bound to change. For sometime the outside has resembled ‘Kensington High Street’

Unfortunately it’s not going to end, too much of the cheaper (sic) trading Streets of the older London are being re-generated with the result that the old character disappears overnight. With a great deal of new development taking place in Stratford, anywhere in the middle looks as though it will be squeezed

Andrew

By: Janice

Janice — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 10:14:57 +0000

I don’t believe race has anything to do with it. It has everything to do with how things are. Profit above all and, with increasing taxes and rents, how can it be otherwise? I feel sick and sad but realistically what else could have happened? We’ll see a lot more changes if we live long enough. Enjoy it all while you can, friends 🙂
(PS I totally dislike Spitalfields Market now, whereas I used to love it and go every single week.)

By: julia harrison

julia harrison — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 08:36:04 +0000

I am sad to hear that Zareena has been treated with so little respect. Everyone deserves a conversation at least, even if the outcome is disappointing. Our little row of shops in South End Green in Hampstead is being changed by landlords who serve the interests of their investors rather than the community. Independent businesses are at risk: even established ones like Daunt Books. I hope Zareena finds a new location and perhaps a chance to establish her knitting idea, with people who listen to what she has to say.