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Owners of indie shop the Bookseller Crow, which is having its rent nearly doubled, say they are “gobsmacked” after an online fundraising page raised nearly £8,000 in just five days.
The Crystal Palace store is appealing for cash after the double-hit of a slow August and a mammoth rent hike proposed by the building’s owners. Other indie shops on the street are also facing a huge increase while McDonald’s is applying to turn the premises next door into a 24/7 outlet, sparking fears the fast food chain could potentially drive up prices and change the area's character.
Owner Jonathan Main told The Bookseller: “We had a very, very quiet August. I’m used to August being quiet but it was much more so than previously which has knocked the wind out of our sails a bit. I’m not quite sure why that was. It may have been people wanting to go away later this year.”
Main said the amount of rent now being demanded was more in line with central London and would make continuing the business “very tricky”.
However, since launching an online fundraiser on 27th September, punters, authors and publishers have been donating in droves to the shop, which is well on its way to hitting its £10,000 target. The page has also received a flood of supportive messages from customers branding it a “marvel” and “a role model for how to make a neighbourhood better”.
The money raised will be used to support the business and may be needed for an arbitration fund if the landlord does not back down. A number of events are also being held at the shop, with recent appearances from Isy Suttie and Chris Neill, plus an upcoming performance from comedians Ben Moor and Jo Neary on 10th October.
Main said: “The three of us are pretty gobsmacked by the response and humbled in a way. I think it reflects a slightly wider concern than just a shop and the way people feel about Crystal Palace to be honest.
“Lots of parts of London get called villages but this really is one and it’s got a very unique identity.”