Sunday, June 01, 2008

June Theme Day - the Corner Shop

Shot with Olympus E520
The June theme for the worldwide City Daily Photo blogs is "Corner Shops", and although I considered a photo of a shop where they sell corners, I opted instead for the straight story for once.

A lot of London's corner shops sprang up in the seventies and eighties - Asians expelled from Idi Amin's Uganda came over here and many opened shops. By working hard with their families, they made livings out of them. Just like my local corner shop and Mr Jagdesh Patel, who has built this cornucopia, an Aladdin's cave, here since 1981, and now part of the very fabric of the community. But countrywide their existence is threatened by changing shopping habits and the incursion of the mega-supermarkets into their territory. We can't and probably don't want to stop the world turning, but I suspect that we will have lost something when the last of these establishments is steamrollered by progress.

You can see that it is a true corner shop by the outside photo, here. See where on the London Daily Photo Map

This month, 174 blogs have said they will join in the theme day, some may forget, some are on other time zones, but click around to explore the world by its corners or Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey by afyonblog, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Clare Unsworth, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gainesville (FL), USA by Leah, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by Chanin, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Los Angeles (CA), USA by Martha Perez, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Fotos. Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Urayasu, Japan by Zono, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

posted by Ham at 00:34 -- Comments here: 16

Comments on "June Theme Day - the Corner Shop"

 

Blogger Neva said ... (04:13) : 

What a nice post to your local shop.

 

Blogger Kate said ... (05:31) : 

These shopkeepers deserve lots of credit for this industry...long hours!!

 

Blogger Tanya Breese said ... (15:00) : 

These are called "convenience stores" here in the US. They also have gas stations attached. With "pay at the pump" convenience, alot of times people don't even need to enter the store so the store owners lose business. It does make it nice to just pop in and buy a gallon of milk or whatever is needed!

 

Blogger Chris said ... (16:16) : 

Interesting post, Ham. I didn't realize that so many immigrants had been expelled from Uganda.

I have to admit that I wanted to see if you posted a shot of my favorite London "corner" shop. . . .It's a little bakery near Scotland Yard. We went there everyday when we were in London a few years ago. . . loved this cinnamon-pecan-twist pastry. By the 3rd day, the guy knew we'd come in to get one, and he saved us large ones. It was such a nice place.

For theme day, I'm showing a bit of my former store (since it fits the bill) if you're interested. . .

 

Blogger Denton said ... (16:23) : 

Ham I enjoyed your description and your use of the phase "Aladdin's cave".

As I have browsed local shops around the world I have reflected on my own purchasing habits and personally have committed to frequent locally owned shops more often. As you mention they are "part of the very fabric of the community".


Denton from Greenville and the Daily Photo Map.

 

Blogger CrazyCow said ... (16:39) : 

This brings back memories of my trip to London a few years ago.

 

Blogger Nathalie H.D. said ... (17:10) : 

I'm glad you photographed the shop owner in his store. Nice portrait.

Re yesterday's post, Aussies are pretty good at hens (and bucks) nights as well !

 

Blogger Rosie said ... (17:21) : 

This is an excellent post, Ham.
In my opinion this is what I call a real corner shop!
Hello Mr Patel! Thanks for letting Ham sharing your shop with us ;)

 

Blogger Knoxville Girl said ... (18:00) : 

Thanks for the interesting story behind the shop. I remember seeing these kinds of shops when I visited London a few years ago. I keep hoping that downtown Knoxville will get a newsstand, but I just don't think it's part of the culture here as it is in bigger cities.

 

Blogger Denton said ... (19:07) : 

Ham, thanks for registering at the Daily Photo Map. A thumbnail of your latest photo now appears on the map.

 

Blogger Gerald (Ackworth born) said ... (20:33) : 

tanya's comment is interesting as a lot of garages (petrol stations) carry grocies and act like corner shops used to do.

 

Blogger marley said ... (21:20) : 

Nice to see a photo with the shop keeper in! I hope we never see the end of these little shops.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (00:12) : 

Great Shop. Nice to have the proprietor participating as well

 

Blogger USelaine said ... (03:58) : 

That's great information to add to the photo. There are many motel keepers from south Asia here, as well as convenience store owners. A good independent movie that tells a little about the Ugandan effects is "Mississippi Masala". It's a practically untouched subject in American film.

 

Blogger Unknown said ... (10:50) : 

he sells lots and lots of chewing gum!

chewing gums are not allowed to be sold in Singapore. haha... (except therapeutic/medicinal ones)

Happy Theme Day!

 

Anonymous London hotels said ... (10:52) : 

I must say that I've learned one thing from my London vacation - you have to book your hotel nearby a corner-shop. I don't why, but you always need something and this something is always there :) I'll recommend LMT to add these criteria in the hotel searching method for my next trip-booking to London or other places!

 

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Name: Ham Location: London, United Kingdom View my complete profile