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The Mary Portas scheme really highlights the challenges facing thr high street. Traditional high street retailing is disappearing. The only shops that will survive are those offering services / experiences and those that provide unique products


DaveR Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> As a generalisation, I expect proper chain outfits

> to deliver standardised products cheaper and more

> efficiently than non-chains, and 'independents' to

> do a better job with non-standard stuff. Because

> standardised products usually only work up to a

> certain level of quality, the easiest niche for

> independents to operate in is top end bespoke type

> goods/services. Unfortunately, although you can

> make high margins doing this, you make more profit

> from the same square footage by piling high and

> selling cheap, hence even successful independents

> getting priced out.

>

> On the other hand, chain operators have higher

> ultimate overheads to pay (head office etc.) and

> so have less flexibility and tolerance of

> underperforming units, so if it ain't working they

> will close down and bugger off - sharpish. Worth

> remembering if you're a commercial landlord.

>

> Back on topic, Wagamama is mediocre at best IMHO,

> tho' I'm not that keen on ramen anyway. I like

> pho (but haven't tried 'PHO' - is it any good?),

> but if I had a free choice for a new resto on LL

> I'd go for Middle Eastern - tagine, brochette,

> cous cous etc.

LondonMix Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Mary Portas scheme really highlights the

> challenges facing thr high street. Traditional

> high street retailing is disappearing. The only

> shops that will survive are those offering

> services / experiences and those that provide

> unique products


It works in Crystal Palace, that's for sure. 20 plus restaurants on the triangle (and that's not including the gastropubs) - including Vietnamese, Portuguese, Venezuelan, Algerian and Japanese - and none of them from a chain.

LondonMix Wrote:

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> Yes exactly, dining is a service not threatened by

> the internet and the offering is unique from what

> the high street provides. The point is that the

> high street retailers are dying...

CP has mainly independent retailers and very few chains. Last time I passed through LL the same seemed to be the case? Mind you - it was a few years ago.

Sorry, not LL but the high street in general throughout the UK. Many high streets are suffering from terminal decline as big box retailers and the internet increasingly eat up market share. For shops to succeed they need to offer niche quality or product.

LondonMix Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Sorry, not LL but the high street in general

> throughout the UK. Many high streets are

> suffering from terminal decline as big box

> retailers and the internet increasingly eat up

> market share. For shops to succeed they need to

> offer niche quality or product.


Yes of course - but I thought we were talking ED?


As for Wagga - never eaten there, but after all these posts I think I might give it a go!

I am 100% with you Louisa!!


As the cost of properties/ tenancy tend to be more and more equal as more central/posh area of London. I would love Dulwich growth by having the same variety of shops/restaurants/services :) in addition of nice parks/schools/atmosphere Dulwich generously has of course! and sure by just few new things, it would not affect the tranquility of the area wherever it's in ED/WD or the Village.


We definitly need other types of restaurants, shops and ....why not a M&S or Waitrose, even a small one!


Waga is fine, a good and fresh Japanese restaurant would be excellent as well

and a Marrocan style restaurant great too (with tajine/couscous, pastilla etc)


And as we dream, I would ask as well for a "Paul" bakery/patisserie! andI woud love to eat locally great french patisserie and bread (also their range of sandwich and salad are healthy and delicious). Of course, not close to Lucas but in the village, for example, as the design of Paul bakery is perfected fitted with class ancient style like caf? rouge.


It's not to create new building but just to replace some old shops, or to replace one/two so many indian restaurants by other types of restaurants...to satisfy locally, all the food taste of Dulwich population :)

This thread actually made me crave Wagamama gyoza.


I was working in Victoria this week, and in the absence of anything more exciting, went to Wagamama for the first time in years. I can confirm that it was irredeemably shit. I have been disabused.


Actually, I'm lying - I went to Wagamama at the airport a few weeks ago for breakfast. The "your food comes when it's ready" ethos extends also to breakfast. I ordered pancakes and bacon (I think) with extra grilled tomatoes. They brought a plate with half a grilled tomato on it about 15 minutes before my pancakes.


What on earth was I thinking?


Tartiflette, that's what we need.

RosieH Wrote:

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> Tartiflette, that's what we need.


That's skiing food, mind you I saw it at West Norwood market last week


It looked great


Waaaay better than ramen and sideways of say "Katsu Chicken curry", which is strangely compelling



I've just had 2 fried eggs and a pitta


Bloomin marvelous !

  • 2 weeks later...
(Reminds me of a quote from Kelly Osbourne- she said she liked to eat English food when she can, like pizza and Wagamamas!) Wagas is great- and if you have food left over (portions are large) they offer to pack it for you to take away (at least the Camden one does)

Something vibrant that offered more diversity in the cuisine offered on LL would be welcomed by me - it beats having empty shops and having a Japanese/Asian restaurant would be a great addition......As for price having paid ?30 for 2 burgers, fries and non-alcoholic drinks in GBK last weekend, I think Waga's is comparatively reasonable!

And regarding an M & S Simply Food moving onto LL - that, in my opinion, would be a serious improvement on Iceland and would avoid me constantly missing the train at London Bridge.

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