Somehow after buhduh-buhduh-buhduh years in the hood, I'd never been in to Lynbo till today. No reason why I should have, I suppose. Being fully inculcated into the bad lazy habits of popping in to Homebase for all my hardware needs, there was no call to.
Today I needed a sink plug (it's a long story). Homebase wanted £1.99. Okay, it's not going to break the bank, but it seemed outrageous for a crappy little piece of plastic. So I popped into Lynbo and found a better product for half the price.
According to owner Ken, my tale is far from unusual. Earlier today, for example, a customer discovered that having bought an extractor fan from Homebase, he thought cheaply, he found that Ken sold it for half the price.
Number 1: So, the first reason to shop at Lynbo is good value. Don't assume Homebase is cheaper!
Number 2: Ken's a truly local trader. He lives above the shop. Apart from Rob at Tao Sports, I think he's the only one that does so. I guess Dave, landlord of The Salisbury, who lives on Green Lanes, and Nick and Sam who live 'above the shop' also count. (Who have I missed?). Ken's been running a business on Green Lanes since 1981 - first a grocers until business was killed off by Iceland. Now it's the hardware store.
Number 3: Ken's an awfully nice chap. (I didn't ask, but I'm guessing he arrived with one of the waves of Asian immigration from Kenya or Uganda - speaking of which, have a look at a project that's being run with English Heritage money around this subject locally). He's very friendly and loves Harringay because he finds it a friendly place.
Thanks for the plug, Ken. I thought I'd give you one back! You're now on my personal shopping list.
Lynbo: 457 Green Lanes, Harringay, London N4 1HE
Tags for Forum Posts: lynbo
Aren't they also one of the only local places that sells those food recycling bags we need to have?
All agreed. And there is another (nearly) local hardware shop just across Finsbury Park on the Blackstock Road, named 'Mix'. They are also great for finding obscure items, and have been there a long, long time - two generations at least.
OK I know this is 'Harringay online' not 'Islington online' :-)
Anything local is good, Bob! For me, local is wherever we live our local lives. Stretches to where you want it to stretch. (Then that means I can tell you about a fabulous little Venezuelan cafe in Crystal Palace!)
I agree with this. A very good shop.
It looks great but where is it? Thanks.
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