Shop for Sale...
Anyone who reads this on a regular basis will know that I never stop banging on about the dead and dying shops on Trafalgar Road, but this one truly saddens me.
We've all known for sometime that the owner/proprietor of La Salumeria was retiring, but until now I hadn't been overly bothered as I had (stupidly, it would seem now) believed the rumours that it would stay a delicatessen, with merely the addition of a cafe at the rear. But looking at the Property Section of the News Shopper this week I noticed that the entire property - shop, flat and freehold is up for sale - so that clearly can't be the case any more.
There are so few true old-fashioned delis around anymore - crammed from ceiling to floor with curious (mainly Italian) jars, tins and boxes, festooned with Pannetone boxes hanging from the ceiling at Christmas, gaily coloured foil-wrapped eggs at Easter and sausages the rest of the time. I know we are getting a new one (at Stockwell Street, up the posh end) but I can't imagine that it will be as stuffed to the gills with goodies - a place to truly browse - as La Salumeria, however yummy it might be.
The asking price is £550,000 - far too much for most would-be deli-founders. This will almost certainly be bought by a developer, the flat spruced-up and sold off and the shop itself closed. My one hope springs from the contents - also for sale so someone might see this as an opportunity.
I am a heavy-hearted Phantom this morning.
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:23
12 Comments:
I saw that in a window in Blackheath today and thought of you. Actually, I thought of me first and the lovely grilled veggie sandwiches they make. Then I thought of you. I'd better go stock up on fun-shaped pasta and Italian cookies. Yum. They will be missed.
The shop was fine but the people who ran it were so miserable and unwelcoming.
Agree with you its a crying shame, twas a great deli.
Totaly disagree with anon, the older chap was a lot of fun - his diatribes on the italian political system were both funny and well informed. Where wil i buy my tenis raquet shaped pasta now?
Whenever I went in there was a young man behind the counter. He was always affable and helpful.
Very sad news - often travel from Lee to this shop for their fresh pesto sauce - best I've ever had!
Michael's the older chap and James is the young bloke.
They've always been good to me (apart from two years in the dog house after I questioned the price of some Parma ham!)
Real shame they're closing. Everything from their coffee to Italian ham is good. Some nice wines too.
Over the last year or so I've noticed more Italian people hanging out there, chatting away - you could be in Milan.
Look forward to some more 'improvements to East Greenwich' - not.
First anonymous - as miserable as someone who won't give their name while slagging someone off, perhaps?
I love that shop,it's an aladdin's cave,a jewel among pebbles,how very sad I am going to be to see it go.We need to preserve these kind of shops encourage them,protect them so are neighbourhoods are rich and diverse.This shop has been a true delight in my neighbourhood.What miserable people? I have found only courteous,interested staff seling an amazing range of delights.Frankie
My name is Debbie and I have lived in Greenwich since 1993. We lived over the road from this shop and I bought things in there hundreds of times. Not once did I get any recognition or any friendliness from these shopkeepers. So there you are, I was brave enough to give my name and that doesn't make me more honest than the first negative response to this shop.
Hmm - curious. I confess I always got on ok with everyone in there (I particularly liked the young girl - never knew her name) - but they always seemed fine to me - the older guy (don't know his name either) used to wave or say hello if he was in the doorway as I walked past...
Maybe it's just that they, like everyone else, are human. I can be a grumpy old Phantom at times which is why I will never open a shop or cafe myself, however tempted I may be - I would be charming one day, snap people's heads off the next. Much as I am here, really.
I popped in this morning to stock up just in case they close soon and was having a chat with Mama. She says that they are retiring, have worked long enough and are hoping that the people buying the shop will continue to trade as a deli. There is still hope that this little gem of a shop will continue.
It's a great shame they're going and I've always found the family that runs it friendly and helpful. Glad to see the usual fabulous Easter Egg display is up. Would LOVE to see it sold as a going concern but fear that as this is Trafalgar Road, we'll probably get another estate agent or rubbish fast food joint.
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