Comments on: 150 Years In Commercial St

By: Carol Himmelman-Christopher

Carol Himmelman-Christopher — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 19:43:10 +0000

I could not be more pleased!! Since first reading of Mr. Gardner and his traditional family business, I have been afraid of reading that corporate….idiots had one and he was forced out. So to have him make the decision (although I know it was a true wrench), to have the business continuing to thrive – this just makes the New Year start out brilliantly. Would be there to help if I could — sitting now in Edinburgh, flying home soon to Berlin — but a long-distance “resident” of Spittalfields due to the wonderful Gentle Author. Thank you!!

By: PAUL Gardner

PAUL Gardner — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:22:15 +0000

Dear Gentle Author – thankyou so much for supporting me over the last ten years when times were hard. You have always been an inspiration to me and I hope I have been to you. A nicer friend I never could have. I have always enjoyed your company when you drop in to my shop for a chat and I hope you will continue to visit me in Leyton. See you tomorrow.
Cheers and thanks,
Paul

By: Jane Gardner

Jane Gardner — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 20:43:22 +0000

Wow – thankyou for all those lovely comments about Paul and his shop. It will be very sad and the end of an era but we hope the new shop in Leyton will allow a fifth generation of our family to continue the business.

We appreciate any offers of help with moving tomorrow. We will be there from 7pm. Either at Commercial Street or 78 Ruckholt Road Leyton E105NP.

It is surprising how much stuff there is in the shop. I think there is probably some from the 1870s!

We would also love to see as many as possible on Monday evening from 6pm to 9pm. It will be rough and ready but there will be drinks and nibbles and Paul will sweep the floor (hopefully).

Thankyou for supporting Paul for the last 47 years and hope to see you in the new shop.

Jane ( the long suffering wife!)

By: Jo N

Jo N — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 20:12:37 +0000

Your wonderful work has had me fall in love with all these East End survivors, GA, and now it breaks my heart to see each one go. Great news of course that the move will enable this historic business to continue, but Spitalfields will clearly be poorer without Paul and his shop.

By: Moyra Peralta

Moyra Peralta — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 14:47:52 +0000

Oh, heartbroken!
Thwarted creativity uppermost, as bought ten films three years ago with a quite-desperate desire to photograph a multiplicity of colour ‘abstracts’ within this wonderful shop. Only a photographer wd understand the feeling :-))
Alas, as the main carer for my elderly housebound husband, I have not been able to physically leave our house for over three years; so will console myself with the Gentle Author’s writings and Andrew B’s images of this lovely shop and its equally memorable owner.
Dear Paul Gardner, we only met twice but your eyrie is burned on my brain and I wish you and your son the HAPPIEST of New Years – and all that you would fervently wish for yourselves in the years to come.

By: paul loften

paul loften — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 14:21:05 +0000

Dear GA, how decent of you to give Paul a helping hand in his move to Leyton ! In fact, on reading your report I am moved (no pun intended) enough to offer a hand in my small , but when the rear seats are shut, spacious VW tomorrow evening . . Leyton is just down the road.

By: Clare

Clare — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 14:01:03 +0000

It’s the end of an era indeed. Good luck with the move. Spitalfields’ loss is Leyton’s gain – it’s round the corner from me, so I look forward to buying some sundries! There’s a great making and selling community here growing, and I have a feeling you’ll do well in your new home.

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 13:15:00 +0000

I’m sad to see the “We’re Moving” sign in the window but glad to hear Paul will have his business up and running again soon.

Thank you to GA for introducing me to Paul G. via the blog.

Any chance the store sign can be given to the Museum of London? Don’t they have a wall of such signage from the past? (Might be confusing with another museum.) What a family story!

I await the follow-up GA story about what “treasures” were uncovered as the store was emptied.
Exciting!

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 10:24:53 +0000

Best of luck, Paul. What a wonderful shop, lovely bags, string, everything… DEar G.A., please let us know about the new shop. Thank you.

By: Annie S

Annie S — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 10:21:16 +0000

Sad that Paul’s family’s familiar shop will no longer be in Commercial Street, however the move makes absolute sense.
Very best wishes for the future in your new home in Leyton Paul!