Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
New Polish Grocer Opening Tomorrow.......and it's Going to be Turkish
Arista Food store on the site of Fairline Green grocers is opening tomorrow. In a pre-opening twist, I noticed that the many nationalities of food proclaimed on the temporary sign and reduced to Greek and Polish. However, chatting to one of the staff embers today, I was told that everything has changed and it's now going to be a Turkish grocer and the name will be changing too......so I was told.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by vaneska on
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In fact I've been down to Newington Green (as they are in fact called) this afternoon: large pile of organic Seville oranges £1.54kg.
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Emina the fruit itself is too bitter to eat but it makes the best home made marmalade, well apart from rhubarb, lime and ginger.
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Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on
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My recollection is that the previous shop sign was "FAIRLINE ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΟΝ ΠΑΝΤΟΠΩΛΕΙΟΝ".
I know very few Greek words but I think this indicated a Cypriot grocery and I thought it was the last remaining Greek Cypriot shop on the block. However, the last time I used Fairline, the employees appeared to be of Indian/Asian origin. There were more Greek Cypriot businesses when we came here in 1979 and, of course, Turkish Cypriot ones too like Yasar Halim (which bears the same Greek title and also a Turkish one "Gida Pazari"). Some Greek ones closed on Sundays and some Turkish ones closed on Fridays - which meant, of course, that there was always one open. With some exceptions, the shops had very similar products on sale.
I have been into the new shop and the stock seems similar to other Turkish shops but there are also a lot of Polish products on sale too. I couldn't find what I was looking for however, which was shallots, and found them as usual at Yasar.
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Years ago I used to make the journey to Harringay Green Lanes from deepest SW London for the excellent food shops. The main difference between now and then is the reduction in number of Greek-owned businesses and appearance of Eastern European shops. There was an excellent Greek baker where I used to buy raw filo pastry that was finer than any I've had since. They would always be rather taken aback by this strange Englishwoman asking for such a thing and would emerge from the bakery at the back with a massive armful of the flat sheets and then proceed to weigh out what I wanted.
I was very distressed when it closed down - I think that premises is now a jewellers.
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Permalink Reply by Cllr Emina Ibrahim on
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Brilliant! Heading down now thanks
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Hi Dick and Vaneska
Fairline as far as i am aware has not been Greek Cypriot owned since i think the late 80's but the signage remained. My mums friends were the original owners (they worked as seamstresses together - very Cypriot!) and i know they sold a very long time ago but obviously don't know the nationality of the people they sold on to.
Vaneska you are probably refering to either Barnaby or Halepi, both were Greek. Halepi famous for wedding cakes and the most amazing Cypriot shortbread (Kurabiye) and Barnaby for the best cheese and sultana Easter breads (Flaounes/Pilavuna). The movement of the Greek businesses simply reflects the migration of the younger generation further up Green Lanes to Palmers Green and also Southgate and Winchmore Hill, where you will find Greek shops and restaurants everywhere. There is still Baldwins, Nafsika and Andreas the melon man on St Anns Rd though.
Emine Ibrahim
The Labour Party Candidate (Harringay Ward)
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Thanks Emina for this information. I like Baldwins very much (especially as they have moved with the times and have a Hungarian butcher making fresh sausages). I did once go to live music in Nafsika which was great but the simple style of its cuisine seemed somehow out of its time and place. Recently, the place seems to be closed more often than not.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Nafsika has closed down. It is planned to re-open it as a Polish restaurant, sister to award winning Autograf on West Green Road. Perhaps also indicative of a changing demographic. No neighbourhood (especially in London) stands still. I believe Michli's is up for sale too as Andreas is looking to retire.
I also noted when shopping in Arista that the staff are not exclusively Turkish. Indeed one young lady on the till noted that someone had told her she should speak Turkish (even thought she's not from there) and her Turkish colleague laughed and said "what rubbish, we are in England" - the younger Turkish generation of entrepreneurs and workers I've met on Green Lanes are very different to their fathers and mothers and I'm looking forward to the plans they have to update an area that they say themselves needs to move with the times.
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And of course how can we forget Cyplon travel !
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Pav trust me you are not the only Cypriot in the village :) the ladder still has a very large Cypriot community from the older generation. I think the reason why many have remained while their children and grandchildren have moved further north is actually because of the abundance and close proximity of local shops which sell our cultural food. Many of the older generation have a strong sense of pride and independence. The fact that they can stroll down to the shops means that they can remain independent and their day to day needs are a short walk rather than a car journey or bus ride away.
But lets be frank whilst we brought fresh filo, fassolia and kebabs to Green Lanes we also brought or were rather targeted by the betting shops which proliferated from the 60's to feed the habit of Greek and Turkish Cypriot men. The gambling industry unfortunately knows our habits as much as we do and has unscrupulously targeted the demographic for decades. Thats what i would really like to see less of in Harringay.
Emine Ibrahim
The Labour Party Candidate (Harringay Ward)
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