Upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose is looking to open a small convenience-type store in central Brixton, it announced today.
Writing in Timeout London, a senior executive for the store said they had their eyes on Brixton.
The chain – which is run by the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership, recently opened a “Little Waitrose” in Clapham Common.
Jackie Wharton, director of convenience at Waitrose, said: “We’re looking at opening stores in Stoke Newington and Brixton – which are both places which have opportunities for regeneration.”
Waitrose has yet to reply to Brixton Blog about their planned location for a new store. The announcement has sparked speculation as to where the new store may be located. One possibility could be a development at 435-437 Coldharbour Lane, between Bookmonger’s bookshop and Clifton Mansions. The space is being developed by the Lexadon Group and will include a large retail space on the ground floor.
Waitrose’s first supermarket was opened in Streatham in 1955.
What do you think about Waitrose? Sign of the gentrified times or a welcome, ethical addition to the high street? Leave a comment below.
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It has all gone very quiet on the Waitrose in Brixton front since October. Does anyone have an update as to whether or not there is likely to be a store opening in Brixton in the not too distant future?
Fantastic news for both Lambeth and Brixton. Great recognition for all the positive changes implemented over the last 5-10 years in particular. Waitrose researches an area before investing in order to confirm the opportunities. Brixton will benefit from both the ‘Waitrose Effect’ and the ‘Virtuous Spiral Effect’ like better schools more restaurants more coffee shop and so on. It’s so lovely to see Brixton in the news for so many positive developments instead of the old stereotypes. Come on Brixton!
I feel sorry for places like Herne Hill and Dulwich, well at least Dulwich has Lordship Lane with its independent shops but Herne Hill has just been left to rot by Lambeth Council. To be frank Lambeth has invested all our money in tarting up central Brixton and Brixton Hill, selling off council homes and attracting young professionals away from places like Clapham (which is a good thing for that area as there will be less street vomits and urinating). Now all the crappy chains are moving in tow. There has been very little investment in Vauxhall, West Norwood, Tulse Hill, Gypsy Hill or Herne Hill. Much of what has happened in Clapham has been sporadic and funded by independents or a spill over from the wealthier Wandsworth Borough, otherwise there has been little investment by Lambeth to encourage businesses to Clapham. Stockwell is even worse. I was in the backstreets of Clapham North/Brixton area the other day and someone said an estate agent had just quoted £500,000 for their poky two bedroom flat which they bought 3 years ago for £250K in that treeless backwater, all because it is between Clapham North and Brixton High Street. Good for Brixton but development initiated with our tax payers money and council taxes should be spread evenly across the Borough, not just one or two areas of choice. Thank you Lambeth Council
Great that Waitrose is finally looking at Brixton. Coldharbour Lane does not have a supermarket. Perhaps Waitrose will also look at Camberwell?
Wish they would come to Herne Hill instead!
I actually emailed Waitrose suggesting they open in the four empty shops opposite Brockwell Park.
They didn’t take my ‘hint’ and said they had no plans to open there (but didn’t mention Brixton).
I do think Waitrose would be better fit for Herne Hill and Dulwich’s middle classes… and would be an alternative to the endless Tescos and Sainsbos.
However, sadly I think there must be a higher profit margin in selling sarnies and ready meals to lazy / hurried younger types in Brixton, than actual fruit,veg and the sort of jars you can’t get in ‘small convenience supermarkets’.
Bit gutted as it’s just goint to be wall-to-wall crisps and factory farmed packages. Yes, I know there are farmers’ markets – but my other half does the shop and he hasn’t the time, money, inclination or patience to deal with that…
Sara, What is going on around Herne Hill station with all of the empty store fronts? It’s not good. I do love Sesame Deli.
another decent pub is needed, not more supermarkets!
Ha ha ha maybe Poundland should rebrand as Piyyndlynnd ( to be pronounced in your best Brian Sewell voice…I know gags which you have to explain generally arn’t funny)
This is a sign of the times. People are shopping in smaller convenience stores, rather than the big supermarkets. Brixton only has Tesco for a biggie and that is not really up to scratch compared to the likes of Sainsbury’s down the road in Balham. So I would imagine there would be more to come if this is the way people are shopping now. Why everyone gets so upset is beyond me. Rather a Waitrose than the usual betting shop, money transfer, buy your gold, junk shop, Fried Chicken shack that Brixton is plagued with. Don’t seem to get any objections when one of those opens – yet there are loads of them around.
Exactly.
Even the isolated and dirt-poor town (population: 2,500) I grew up in in north Devon now has a Waitrose. It used to be a Gateway or something.
Hard to see how Brixton can stand still.
Too true.
I hear on the grapevine Waitrose is planning on buying out Brixton Academy, demolish it and then build its ‘little’ grocer shop on top.
What is a yuppie now days? Someone who has worked for a living all their adult lives, saved for a deposit and finally got on the ladder in their 30’s? I might change my name to Whinging Scroungers Out.
I’m all up for workers cooperatives but never got on too well with Waitrose. The difference between them and Marks & Sparks seems to be that whereas Marks source and vet all their produce to high standards, Waitrose just sells the same stuff as everyone else at posh prices.
I used to live in Docklands, where I had Asda & what must be the biggest Waitrose. After a couple of drinks, you could go into Waitrose with the cash and intent to get a week’s worth of groceries and end up with one night’s worth of fancy finger food.
I don’t think that is true. If you look at Waitrose standards they are very high, they even own their own farms. Which supermarket was not affected by the horse-meat scandal? They can trace everything they use to each farmer.
Actually, neither Waitrose, Sainsburys, or M&S was a part of the horse meat saga. Somehow Sainsburys name was roped in when they had none.
The proliferation of small supermarkets is simply the product of Brixton having the highest proportion of ‘young sharer’ households in the country (Census 2011).
Lambeth had a policy not to allow any more houses to be split into flats.. you’d think they could carry that through into supermarkets too. ie no more ‘convenience’ stores and more proper shops where you can get a family shop (or healthier, less packaged food)
Surely we must be getting close to “peak supermarket” in Brixton. Waitrose is all well and good and not really as significant an addition as this piece suggests.
Much more significant is the number of supermarkets that are opening in Brixton. There’s one opposite Mothercare, one by the Tube, on up the top of Effra road, one on the Hill at the junction with Water Lane, one in the old George pub, one at the top of the Hill and one on King’s avenue, all of them opened in the last five years.
That’s the real issue, as it suggests the supermarkets think the area is worth dominating, which suggests they think it is undergoing long-term change.
What about Fortnum and Mason, when are they moving in?
shortly after Harrods, so I’ve heard
Great news – be good to have another choice from Sainsbury’s and Tesco, shame it’s not a big store and it’s a partnership (owned by the employees) a business model that I wish more UK businesses would follow where everyone shares in the success of the company.
Yuppie isn’t a ‘race’ LOL
Wow, Brixton’s getting all the shops; what about poor old WN?? Since you moved the drunks away, we get them hanging around in WN now; what about the shops you don’t want please???
But Waitrose is part of the John Lewis Partnership, a workers cooperative… surely that’s a plus point?
Some comments on this thread have been deleted as they violate Brixton Blog rules. We don’t tolerate swearing or personal attacks.
Alex – you are a truly offensive and disgusting individual. If the word ‘yuppie’ was replaced with ‘blacks’, there would be an outcry. I’m all up for freedom of speech but not when it starts to turn into racism
Or else what, Alex? What are going to do about it?
Great another option other than Tesco and Sainburys.
Oh no…. what a shame. The glut of supermarkets that sell everything except what you actually need makes me so sad. The fact that woman mentions Stoke Newington and Brixton in the same breath shows what is happening all across nice places in London. I’d welcome lower-priced places to eat out, or a place where kids can safely hang out rather than the further gentrification of this area.
Please, waitrose lady, please leave us alone x
what is it you want to buy?? bizarre comment – they sell what peopl want to buy which is why they are so successful. Please please
Given that Foxtons is already firmly rooted in Brixton, any concern about the possible arrival of Waitrose seems a bit pointless! What Brixton still lacks is more casual dining options – the outlets in the market are usually full to bursting in the evenings these days…