i pretty much grew up in the sleazy glory of camden market in the late 90's (even then it had gove way way upmarket compared to the early 90's and the decades preceeding - but that was just different stallholders selling crafts, not chainshops). I loved it and still love what i recognise of it, although it doesn't really have any space for kids to socialise like it did.

It was a magnet for gothy punky twatty kids to get together and provide some mutual defence against scallies, socialise, get drunk and simply grow up. A lot of us weren't really goths or metallers but desperate for the freedom their scene and the camden locale gave us to try new things and be ourselves, away from rough schools or streets. We had some of the hardest caps and hoodies kids sheepishly hang out with us on the sly cos they secretly loved metal/goths/were gaye etc. - it provided space for that.

The thing about camden was you could lose yourself in the crowds, find non commercial bits of land or places that didn't ask much, spend fuck all and hang around all day - it was a unique atmosphere. As soon as it changed, my god did we fucking know it had changed. Nowhere to sit, mcdonalds and starbucks need the seats for paying customers, didn't want us shouting, smoking drinking etc would call the police to get us to leave... I don't want to sound crashing liberal, capitalism is capitalism - but the commercialisation of our favourite place to the levels of the normal highstreet was fucking awful, it genuinely reduced peoples' freedom. Our original hangout is now, for instance, 'The Ice Wharf' a horrible wetherspoons bar which charges shitloads, ID's everyone, has a dresscode, really pushy bouncers and is gaudy and exlusive at the same time. And I usually like the unpretentiousness of Wetherspoons.

The shops themselves, well yeah it speaks for itself. It went from a place to find bargainable treasures from various subultures to being a standard fashion outlet. Its still a great place to shop, but stallholders who could get by on the odd bargain and generally maintain a stall of random specific junk (like for instance HR Gieger style furniture) have been priced out. Virging opening up right on the high street - fuck. That was a real blow. Tower actually had pretty good selection, virgin is proper shit

right thats enough i'm rambling.

good luck to the campaigners but ehat i have learnt is this is ineviatble; profit drives all capital and it accumulates in monopolies, its most effective vessel. Artisan or more autonomous versions are way outdated and practically unheard of in US, the main model. There is no way of reintroducing variety without coming into conflict with the strongest forces about today.

Byeee,
love to all the emo kids, the inheritors of our pimply mantle! Cry for me! x

That Camden Market - for so long that last bastion of a place to see original people in original shops - is about to be sanitised into any other highstreet is depressing. It's also bloody stupid, is Camden Market not a huge tourist attraction? Who is going to want to come and see a Boots and a Starbucks? The relentless onslaught of aggressive expansion by chain retailers is about to bang another huge nail in the alternative culture of London. Is there nothing that can be done? I've always thought these government petitions are fairly ineffective...