Monday 1 February 2010

Whyte's deli seems to have closed down

I passed it today and it appeared to be empty. This is rather strange as when I went in two weeks ago they were just getting a new fridge. It's a shame as we were becoming regulars - the bread and soup were excellent.

9 comments:

MKB always said...

I too saw it being emptied yesterday and asked the workmen and they said it had closed down. That location seems to have no luck at all with the amount of enterprises over the years that have tried to make a go of it.

Anonymous said...

Shame. Just seemed to be having a refurb to me.

On the other hand Harvist seems busy most of the time.

Josh said...

I asked Miro what happened and he said that subletting it didn't work. The place is good but to expensive and to noise apparently.

But another deli is not what that place needed. A small grocer or something more of interesting, maybe a small bookshop? We do need one in Chamberlayne Rd, desperately!

iain said...

A bookshop would be great!

There is more activity in the old flower shop beside the overground.

Anonymous said...

interesting comments re bookshop. we have been making very early investigations into opening a small used bookshop/ gallery space in the area. any comments welcomed...

Matthew said...

Interesting idea. I'm sceptical about new book bookshops simply because the trade clearly is suffering across the board. Having said that Queen's Park and West Hampstead seem to be able to support them.

A second-hand bookshop would be good. Odd that kensal rise has no charity shops.

Anonymous said...

I spoke with Karim who was running Whytes' and he explained there was a problem with sub letting it as Miros' wanted to unburden themselves of the lease entanglements and wanted to return the lease to it's owner. It was such a shame as it was a great little cafe deli and the food was great there, but as I understand the rents on the street are really high. I hope they will regroup and come back, although from other comments on here some of you don't get the support your local business thing and constantly look for what is not there and not what is.
I can see the book shop thing, but how many of you really read a book these days, with the emergence of the digital book.
Whyte's is a sad loss not only for the cafe, but for the promise it had offered to a young man in his first business as a social enterprise in a community that really needs to allow this type of business to thrive. Aine

Unknown said...

I think it is very difficult to pinpoint exactly what type of business will work in Kensal Rise. We all have idea about what we would like to see, but in reality, are there enough people who want the same thing in order for it to be a financial success? For instance, clearly many people in the area value good quality food, myself included. Having said that, I can't afford to spend £30 or more per week on lunch, so in reality, its Tesco's for me, rather than Miro's, Minkies or the Chamberlayne (unless its a treat). I love reading books (real books), but I don't need to buy them new or even secondhand when I can get them from my local library for free.

Anonymous said...

personally i would like to see all the bookies go in the kensals....