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Cowley Rd Continental evicted!

samosa seeker | 21.07.2011 16:18 | Culture | Free Spaces | Oxford

'The Continental' grocery store on Cowley Rd, East Oxford has been evicted by their landlords.

"Eastern and Continental Store", generally just known as "the Continental" was a very down-to-earth local, independent grocery shop. Today I was shocked to find the shutters closed and a sign on the door:

"TAKE NOTICE...

These premises have been entered into and taken possession of by the landlord yadda yadda yadda [I didn't write it down word for word].

...any enquiries can be directed to Gulzar and Co 07557 223944"

It was dated yesterday (20th July) but even today there were still two security guys sitting in a car next to the place. I asked them what had happened and they said the shop had been behind paying rent.

Even from outside, through the shutters I could still smell the wonderful mixed aromas of veg; that community grocery smell....

So, another sad step in the gentrification of Cowley Road! One can only speculate as to whether the opening of yet another supermarket in the area (Sainsbury's) a few months before had any part in this.

If you're as pissed off as I am about this, I suggest you ring "Gulzar and Co" on the above number and tell them what you think of their decision to evict. It's not clear whether they are the bailiff company or the landlords (I would guess the latter) but either way they deserve to know what the impact of this will be on the local community.

[Disclaimer: Obviously you should remain polite at all times. Always stay within the law. In fact please just sit in, watch tv and go on endless shopping sprees filling your house and lives with endless consumer crap... you will then feel content. Honest.]

samosa seeker

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Bastards

21.07.2011 16:29

That place was my favourite. Fucking Sainsburies and Tesco, the independent shops aren't that much better but at east they have some kind of heartbeat. I'm pretty sure that Sainsbury has been making losses since it opened, it can afford to wait until all the shops like this have closed.

Dan


please describe which shop

22.07.2011 07:17

I don't live nearby but when in the area I love to buy the best samosas, bananas, sweet potatoes, tahini, chutneys, henna, beans, flatbread and more form a particular shop which I think is the one you are talking about. Please tell us where the 'Continental' is. Perhaps a picture would help?

another samosa seeker


Where it is/was

22.07.2011 09:00

The Continental is the green-fronted asian grocers on the corner of Cowley Road and Crown Street, next-door to Cycloanalysts, with its entrance in the actual corner of the building. A lot of west-indian and african people seem to shop there. Yes, they have a good range of flatbreads.

Google Streetview:  http://tinyurl.com/3ej7x4a

All in the past tense, I guess.

Local knowledge


FFS

03.08.2011 11:29

I love that shop. Really hope that the family that run it are all OK. Thoughts to them.

djjnadk