Hi, I disagree with what others have said about over saturation of coffee shops in se23, this end of the se6 border is lacking in a decent one. In regards to opening hours, weekends only is probably smart, although as some others have mentioned, Fridays could also work well for you. I’m also someone who has Fridays off, so it would be nice to have somewhere reliable on my doorstep to visit.
I know it’s a completely different kind of area, but Romeo Jones in Dulwich Village is a good balance of deli/bakery & cafe and manages it all in a relatively small plot. They also for a time started selling milk when the local corner shop closed.
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We’re on Elsinore Road and would love the lower-end strip to get spruced up with independents!
41. and Aga’s are by far the best places for food and coffee in the area (not a fan of St Davids personally).
As a very local Creative Director and Agency owner, would love to extend my support by seeing if you’ve considered your branding for the new coffee shop - with Small World a great example of how not to do it!
Look forward to following your progress. Good Luck!
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Makes the take away cups recycled material and zero plastic lids and straws please.
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Out of interest, what is it you don’t like about St Davids? It’s as useful to know what people don’t like about a place. I haven’t considered branding yet but feel free to message me the services you offer. The shop front is really important to me as is branding the takeaway cups and bags etc (considering any restrictions when using recyclable materials). Thanks.
I’m really keen on high quality batch brewing and wish it was a more popular choice. I’m wondering whether I can persuade people of the benefits of this choice over and above espresso based drinks.
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Hello again! I’d like to know what you think of Lolos in Perry Vale as a location vs a unit by Moon Lane Books on Stanstead Rd. Personally I think Stanstead Rd is a stronger area as the footfall is greater and the bookshop is expanding its classes, plus it’s further from any other coffee shops than Lolos. However I haven’t been able to progress with either of the two Stanstead Rd units I was working on due to landlord restrictions. I’m planning to leaflet the shops there but would love to hear your views on Lolos as the shop is quite cool inside. It’s very awkward in shape but charming with outside seating. Thanks.
Lolos was a disappointment as it said Patisserie but sold no bread or cakes the sandwiches were basic, the coffee basic. I did suggest to the owner that decent serviettes, brown sugar and a little class would not cost a lot but would elevate it from a simple cafe.
I think the saying build it and they will come applies, good luck
Helpful to know what it used to be like thanks. Was it just the menu that put you off? The old menu was still in there and it looked poor, plus there’s a cafe a few units down doing that kind of thing. I’m planning something quite different and will definitely be selling fresh bread. It’s A1 so no propper cooking which is limiting but plenty of places manage it. Groceries and wine are on the agenda.
Sounds a lot better, I had a chicken toastie and coffee had to ask for a knife, the serviette was single ply looked like it was torn off a kitchen roll they only had white sugar no music and definitely no patisserie.
I was polite and suggested the improvements and have to say initially it was busy as people explored the new offering but quickly declined. I am aware of 3 young mums that were put off by my report and thats the market to go for.
Shame there are no guarantees in life but you only have to look at the business of Brown&greens and Canvas&cream to see the potential.
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I tried very hard to love Lola’s but I never knew what its USP was. It had a few fresh loaves - lovely but they only had a handful every day. Then there was the fridge / counter with maybe three or four lacklustre sandwich fillings. No patisseries that I remember, despite that being what they called the shop. It was just a strange mishmash.
I think something like a smaller version of The Teapot in FH could do well there - good takeout paninis that can also be served in with a bit of salad, decent cake sold by the slice etc. There isn’t much room for sitting in, though, so I think most of the trade will have to be take out. I would definitely use a shop like that to pick up a panini to take home after a trip to the surgery or pharmacy. There may also be trade from customers of Hair Hecktic. Add a decent selection of fresh bread and I’d make a detour.
ETA - As in your last post, the Teapot also has a small selection of delicatessen-style groceries and I’ve picked up enticing items a few time on impulse.
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We live very nearby. I thought Lolos was a good location but sadly their offerings did not meet my local expectation /need. Good location because footfall is not bad - parade of shops around it is well used, busy GP surgery and pharmacy nearby, hairdressers etc as others have said. Good location because nearest good coffee locations would be Mayow park or Forest Hill station/town centre imo. Also don’t underestimate how may people walk past every morning on the way to the station - would some pick up a quick takeaway coffee there if available, quick and excellent?
Quite a nice street corner though, inside and out, just uninspiring food and drink. Sandwiches were handmade but very basic (tuna mayo/egg mayo/cheese pickle etc), all right for a quick sandwich on the hoof, but again not near the standards of local cafes. I don’t remember them having a proper coffee machine? I tried hard to like the bread but it was nothing special. There is a local market for great bread - visit the German bakery van at the German church on Saturdays for example.
If you set up something much more contemporary (as @RachaelDunlop said) I’d hope you had a decent chance of making it work in that location.
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I tried hard to support the place (Lolo’s) because of its convenience to my home. It was good for popping out and getting a takeaway sandwich or quick coffee, when working from home for example, but when I didn’t want to go as far as the town centre.
As others have mentioned, there is a busy and quite a suprisingly useful parade of shops there, complemented by the doctors and dentists surgeries. These, along with the bus stop immediately outside, create lots of opportunities for selling to people who are “waiting around” - they don’t even necessarily have to eat in. I have always felt that if someone could get the food and drink offering right, along with the decor, and get the pricing right (for a predominently residential area) then it could work.
Finally, if you go for it, for what it is worth I will give it a go, and if you’ve got it right, i’ll be in there as often as I can be!!
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I thought they convert it to a one bedroom flat according to the planning they put in but this might have changed allthough it looks like work has started
The detail of the comments above in the idea of a decent offering to Perry Vale says a lot I think. It’s an area that has a lot of customer base, but untapped potential.
Choices for people in my catchment (Cranston road) for a lazy stroll to get a nice coffee are quite limited right now. No.41 is great, but choice of where to stroll to and an offering of fresh bread is what definitely makes me interested in the Lola’s location.
Good luck in your research!
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I’m living on a Vancouver road and totally agree with the comments above the area near Lola’s is crying out for a coffee shop/deli I find myself venturing to mayow park/FH/HOP as there is nothing within 10/15 min walk of here.Lots of footfall in that area and it is currently completely untapped with zero competition!Good luck!
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Could be an excellent location with great footfall - would definitely visit. Good luck.
Lived local for 30 odd yrs can remember the shop originally being a little Post office?
Then it changed to a little corner bakery &cake shop which for the size of shop sold a decent range of Bread,Rolls,Cakes, Just simple fresh produce.
They also had a display fridge with meats & cheeses that made up rolls & sandwiches mainly from what i remember for local Garages,workshops , businesses, Just simple ,reasonably priced food.
Think the trouble was someone took it over & tried to turn it into what i would call a posh cafe , Which by the sound of it is what you wish to do ?
Can we just have a nice sensibly priced bakers back please ?
If you want your 5 pound loaf ,Moka Fat white thingymebob Go to Borough Market or Local farmers market ??
I live nearby to Lolos and found that the food and the coffee was poor. The bread was also not great for bakery.
With the right proposition, I think that it could be good site - there are no decent coffee options nearby and I think you would pick up good parent/child traffic as it’s on the rat run to Kilmorie. For a coffee I have to go to the station. Forest hill is crying out for a decent bakery (and greengrocer) so if you were to accompany your offer with baked goods as well I think you could do well. I would certainly visit.
The big breakfast cafe is good - but from what I understand of the business you wish to launch My sense is that the two businesses would thrive together as the two would not directly compete with one another.
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I think a spot near Moon Lane Books would be ideal… however something of a biased opinion given I live nearby!
I’m biased as I live nearby but I think the area is calling out for coffee/ deli/ bakery as you suggest. I also think the paved area outside could be used well with some nice planting, seats etc.