Four things Wanstead could covet from Victoria Park

The news that Wanstead is to get an Italian deli/Gastronomia – revealed here on Wansteadium on Wednesday – has raised hopes that vacant shops on the High Street might start to get filled by an interesting and diverse range of traders.

A few weeks ago we ran an article looking at various shops etc in Leytonstone, thinking how nice it would be if, for instance, Wanstead had its own bookshop/cafe.

But maybe Victoria Park is a better model. Before the Ginger Pig came to Wanstead, another feature of Victoria Park had already come to E11 – Luppolo’s sister pub The Lauriston.  So what else could Wanstead covet? Here are a few thoughts…

FullSizeRender

The Gastronomia sounds like it will be an interesting deli, but this Victoria Park shop is a gem, with ice cream, cakes, pies, salads, cheeses etc.

IMG_1098

Similarly, Bottle Apostle offers a huge range of wines, and runs weekly wine-tastings.

haus

Haus is a very cool furniture, lighting and houseware shop (could have an affinity with the Orange Tree).

IMG_1102

Three years ago Wanstead had a short-lived pop-up toyshop of its own. Wanstead teems with children – and our new playground will doubtless be a bit of a draw.

Entrepreneurs, please take note.

 

Is this the Ginger Pig effect?

Is Wanstead about to see the start of a Ginger Pig effect where similar establishments start seeing the lure of the High Street?

We pose the question because Delicataste, which closed down only a couple of weeks ago after many years, is already being converted into a new shop. And, people, it’s not going to be a nail bar.

The shop is going to be an Italian delicatessen, or more accurately a gastronomia, selling fresh pasta and other produce. Three Italian brothers, who are farmers by background and already run a stall at the Farmers’ Market, are behind the scheme and are already busy converting the premises.

Meanwhile there are several other vacant properties on the High Street – two former banks, at the time of writing, plus others – which may be next in line (if they’re lucky).

This seems to be the fella


In the middle of the picture? On top of the pole? See the little ball-type camera? 

This appears to be the camera which, it turns out, is being used for parking enforcement on Wanstead High Street. 

There was debate here earlier this week after reader Lloyd reported getting a ticket for dropping someone off while stopping in the bus stop area outside Wanstead Pharmacy. Lloyd was not contesting the fairness of getting a ticket, though some people took it that way. He was pointing out that rules are being enforced by camera as well as by traffic warden, and it’s surely better that everyone knows that so that they won’t make the same mistake.