Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Battle over ashes of Propspero's Bookshop
The HJ reports that
Read the full story in the Journal.........
An ice cream seller, a coffee shop and two bookshops are fighting it out to take over Crouch End's oldest bookstore.
Read the full story in the Journal.........
Tags for Forum Posts: crouch end
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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It might make a good betting shop :-)
In spite of what Mr Winskill says, I never felt welcome in there. I got the feeling that they didn't like browsers.
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Permalink Reply by Kit on
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Or to really wind up the CrouchEnders, an everything-under-a-pound shop...
Maybe Prospero's isn't the biggest bookshop, or the easiest to navigate - but I've never felt unwelcome as a browser. It's also a great resource for info on local book events, and as an indie makes intelligent choices of stock. Here's hoping that the two bookshops bidding for the site share that approach - Crouch End has one grim clearance bookstore already...
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Permalink Reply by Katey on
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I don't think that clearance bookshop is grim. It has some good bits in there at prices which are affordable for many people ...I use it quite a bit. I also like Prospero's approach and have never felt unwelcome in there as a browser. The more bookshops in the borough the better I think - whatever their style!
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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"Read the full story . . .?
It begs several questions. Not least, can our local news organisations develop a business model which lets them hire more good journalists and - crucially - resource them properly?
According to the agents, Paul Simon Seaton, both the ice cream and coffee shop proposals are still 'live'. So will there be a new bookshop in these premises? If so, will it be an independent - perhaps keeping the current staff - or part of a chain?
Remembering what happened with Ottakar's/Waterstone's in Wood Green, there's even more reason to salute the achievement and support Simon Key and Tim West at the Big Green Bookshop.
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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Prospero's may be Crouch End's oldest still-trading bookstore, but it's only been there ten years or so. There used to be a bright and cheerful bookshop on Crouch End Hill, which closed down to become a vegetarian restaurant. Not sure what's there now.
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I think Prospero's must be older than 10 years. I'm sure it was already there when I moved into the area in 1995.
The site of the old bookshop on Crouch End Hill became a vegetarian restaurant for a time which was called Fiction (a paean to its old form I suppose?). Then a hairdresser opened up on the opposite side to it on Edison Road, and called itself Pulp. So the two premises next to each other were Pulp and Fiction -- apparently an intended pun by the owner of the hairdresser. Pulp the hairdresser is still there, but Fiction closed down and is now the premises for Lupa Pizza takeaway, which does passable pizzas.
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