Local Café?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Cordwell James on November 21, 2010 at 0:17

Well, there was somewhere very nice in Myddleton Road in the mid 90s, called Lyons. The signage is still up in fact, but the premises have been boarded up for years. A few of us really liked going there; they sold homemade cake and had a little garden out the back. Perhaps it's time has come round again...

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Permalink Reply by Diana Ferguson on November 21, 2010 at 8:43

I remember it Michael. It was nice wasn't it? Good location, too, on the way to the station and tube. When it opened, we thought the area was looking up, then it closed. Such a shame. I definitely think the time has come again - in fact, it's way overdue!

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on November 21, 2010 at 11:54

Diana
I agree a good café in Myddleton Road would be a terriffic addition to our area, but in a challenging economic climate I fear its unlikely a new business would take the risk to set up without a guaranteed critical mass of customers. A Community Café might be an option - does anyone remember the old hut in The Grove up at Ally Pally which operated a cafe as part of a project working with adults with learning disabilities. A community cafe which had another social purpose might be an option - but would need to be subsidised, at least in its set-up phase.

Alternatively we could make use of the excellent existing local small businesses - Fatisa has been mentioned a couple of times recently in another discussion as has Funky Lounge (with Wi-fi!) - on Green Lanes. There is also the new cafe on Green Lanes "Munch Time"? which has considerably brightened up the old Cafe Amore premises and there is Sais Cafe just by Bounds Green station.

So whilst we dont have a perfect cafe (yet!) in Myddleton Road - we have some pretty good places on offer a short walk away.

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Permalink Reply by Diana Ferguson on November 21, 2010 at 13:38

Hi Richard, I do indeed remember the hut in The Grove, and actually know the person who set it up - Richard Landis, who also ran an after-school club that my girls went to when we lived in Muswell Hill. A community café could be a possibility, but as you say with the current economic climate… I'll check out those other places you've mentioned though Green Lanes is a bit far for me to be "local", and the Sais Café doesn't, for me, really hit the mark.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Perry on April 4, 2011 at 16:19

On this subject, I heard that Kebabish is up for sale (one of the kebab shops at the Bounds Green tube station intersection).  I think it would be fantastic to have a really good cafe (DIana, I also find the Sais Cafe doesn't quite hit the spot), a deli, or even a great hardware store.  However, I live in fear that there will be another fast food outlet taking it's place.  One thing we really don't need is another chicken/fast food shop!  I don't know how these decisions are made, or indeed how much consideration the local council puts into what a new business adds to the local community.  I also don't know how much say the citizens of that local community have in the matter.  I think the general consensus is that Bounds Green and Bowes Park is very ready for a place that serves good food, good coffee with a really great atmosphere... True, economic times are tough...but if there was something like that just up the road, I go all the time!  I think many others feel the same way.

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Permalink Reply by Diana Ferguson on April 4, 2011 at 17:21

Hi Jane, there are so many people saying the same thing. I wonder if people power might have any effect? Does anyone know how these things work? That whole area near the tube is pretty grotty but a good café would raise the tone - and it would be an excellent site, commercially, for anyone running it as it would get so much passing trade. I couldn't begin to think about opening a café individually myself. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by Olivia Macdonald on April 5, 2011 at 17:37

I agree that the lack of a good place for coffee, deli style snacks, etc is very evident. My son in law has wanted to open a new café in the area for a while - and even tried to get the kebabish premises the last time it came up. I'm pretty sure it was privately owned and the new lease was given to someone of the same community (in fact most of those shops around the tube are owned by the same person). I don't remember all the details as it was a few years ago, but would be surprised it it's anything more than a short lease that's for sale.
We also discussed building something at one of the BPCA meetings - there's a company that puts up very nice original oak structures (very reasonably priced) and I suggested the building could somehow be funded by the community in the space opposite Myddleton gardens. But then there was the question of connecting gas and electricity. Sofiane also looked at some of the vacant properties along Myddleton Road, but as Richard has mentioned, it is currently a big financial risk for one person to take on. If there's any way a premises can be acquired communally, then Sofiane doesn't mind risking his 'labour' - he's Tunisian and has managed cafés before.

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Permalink Reply by Diana Ferguson on April 5, 2011 at 18:18

Hi Olivia, seems it's something we all want. Maybe ways and means could be discussed at the next meeting? Or a local questionnaire could be leafleted, to see how much support there was and if anyone has any ideas for getting this off the ground? Maybe the communal route is the way to go?

Olivia Macdonald said:

I agree that the lack of a good place for coffee, deli style snacks, etc is very evident. My son in law has wanted to open a new café in the area for a while - and even tried to get the kebabish premises the last time it came up. I'm pretty sure it was privately owned and the new lease was given to someone of the same community (in fact most of those shops around the tube are owned by the same person). I don't remember all the details as it was a few years ago, but would be surprised it it's anything more than a short lease that's for sale.
We also discussed building something at one of the BPCA meetings - there's a company that puts up very nice original oak structures (very reasonably priced) and I suggested the building could somehow be funded by the community in the space opposite Myddleton gardens. But then there was the question of connecting gas and electricity. Sofiane also looked at some of the vacant properties along Myddleton Road, but as Richard has mentioned, it is currently a big financial risk for one person to take on. If there's any way a premises can be acquired communally, then Sofiane doesn't mind risking his 'labour' - he's Tunisian and has managed cafés before.

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Permalink Reply by mary-louise clews on April 7, 2011 at 20:49

Hi all

Let me know if there's any way I can help with moving this forward as I'm DESPERATE for somewhere decent to go within walking distance. I agree the Front Room in Stroud Green is a very good model for Bounds Green. The owners took a punt that there were a lot of people living in the area that were hiking over the hill to Crouch End to go to a decent cafe and would flock to a good local place if one became available. And they did  - I was one of them! But have now moved to BG and v sad there isn't anything here. There is definitely a growing demand, and I agee with others SAIS Cafe doesn't hit the spot.

M-L

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Permalink Reply by Caroline Bernard Moxey on April 8, 2011 at 16:12

Hi,

Agree that we do need something on Myddleton that is near and handy.  We used to frequent the cafe that was at the location that is now Ladbrokes, we went on holiday, came back and it had been burnt out!!!   Then we moved to what was Mandellie, but the atmosphere started to change there before it closed down - and has reopened as The Green Cafe - has anybody tried it?  It does not look that inviting I must admit...

 

The Lyons shop was open for such a short time I did not get a chance to try it but the frontage of the shop is lovely, and if it had a garden, I am even more saddened that it did not last.

 

I agree with Diana's idea of a local questionnaire to find out what people want - I think a cafe could provide a great neighbourhood hub but it is all about the funding and the risk...  I am not an official BPCA member but happy to help distribute a leaflet if you go that route.

Best wishes,

Caroline 

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Permalink Reply by Diana Ferguson on April 8, 2011 at 17:31

Wow, there seems to be a lot of interest in this idea. Mary-Louise I can totally understand that you miss the Front Room. There's another café in the same road now apparently, so obviously the idea 'took'. I guess it all comes down to money and someone having the courage to start up a café in these difficult times. Maybe a leafletted questionnaire might reveal just how many people would genuinely want and use such a place. Then, if there's enough interest, we could have a meeting to discuss ways and means? There's always the idea of a pop-up café of course. But we'd have to know about the legal aspects etc.

Diana

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Permalink Reply by Laura Kirsop on April 10, 2011 at 10:42

We've just bought a flat in the area and the empty Lyons shop was one of the first things I noticed. The facade is so cool that I thought it was just crying out for someone to re-open it and turn it into a Front Room style cafe. If only I had some money to do this! I would definitely be interested in helping out with a co-cooperatively run cafe, should this idea get underway.

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