‘Our London market is being closed down for a Whole Foods – we’re a victim of gentrification’

Traders claim they are victims of ‘assassination by gentrification’ after a popular west London indoor market looks set to make way for a Whole Foods store.

Dozens of small businesses that have traded at Queensway Market for decades have been told they must pull down their shutters for the final time next month.

The market, close to Bayswater station and opposite Hyde Park, has been earmarked for development of Whole Foods store the traders have been told.

They are short lease agreements which mean the owners can give them little notice.

Now they are vowing to fight the move.  A petition calling to save the market has hit nearly 570 signatures at the time of publication.

Traders have been told they need to be out by May 28 after the deadline was extended from April 28.

The market has been a ‘go to’ for tourists who enjoy the boutiques, restaurants and second-hand shops which are not part of chains. The extensive maker is like an Aladdin’s Cave which is nestled among recognisable high street staples like Pret and Starbucks. The low lighting inside adds to the mystique.

Mohammad Sultani, 58, who has run a juice stand in the market for 15 years, told Metro: ‘We are devastated. It’s just not right. I serve fresh juice and my customers say it’s the best. I have customers in top jobs who live here and my regulars. Then there are the tourists some who return here every time they visit London. We don’t need another Wholefoods there’s two locally. This is like we are being assassinated by gentrification.

‘I’ve got nothing against Wholefoods, chains or change in general. But there needs to be space in London for small businesses. We can’t afford huge rents.

‘This market adds to the community. We are like a family who is going to have to split up. We are heartbroken.’

The traders pointed out that there are already two Whole Foods shops in the area with one in Notting Hill and a flagship store on Kensington High Street.

Isabel Del Campo, 46, who has operated Eva’s hair salon for more than 20 years, said she could not afford to move to another shop.

She said: ‘It’s going to be the end of my business. I’ve been here for more than 20 years I have customers who have been coming back for that long. They are friends more than clients and we have a community here. I know about their lives. The gentrification is ripping the heart out of the community.’

Vito Di Bari, 35, who runs a boutique, said he had sunk his life savings into his business and was on the brink of losing everything he had worked for.

He told Metro: ‘I came from Italy and set up this business and it’s doing well. I’ve worked very hard to make it a success but now it could be over. I specialise in clothes and products aimed at the LGTBQ community and we are like a family. London is becoming full of chains. We need to encourage diversity bit big money is now taking over.’

Tourists and locals told Metro they loved Queensway Market and described it as like a mini version of the world-famous Camden Market in north London.

Portuguese tourists Bernardo Costa, 32, and Teresa Goncalves, 29, who visited the market as part of their four day trip, described it as ‘everything we love about London’.

Bernardo said: ‘This is a great place we just had to come in. It’s 200 per cent what we love about London. It’s a quirky place with loads of character. Too many cities are becoming the same, full of chains. We are seeing changes like that in Lisbon where we live.’

Teresa added: ‘I love this place, its quirky and strange. A taste of the real London. It should not be replaced by a chain. We don’t come to London for chains.’

Hazel Brand, who works nearby, popped into the market to have a watch battery changed.

She told Metro: ‘This place should be preserved. I popped in here for a fix on my watch and the service has been tremendous. I’m not against chains but we need the small businesses as well. I think it’s shameful and disgraceful that the market is facing closure.’

Jassar Mohamed, 51, owns the shop where Hazel had her watch fixed.

He said: ‘We take pride in a personal service which the big chains just can’t offer. I have three shops here and I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have four children and was bringing them in to work with me. Now that dream is in tatters. We in this market are like a happy family we are very close. We will fight on but we are up against rich and powerful organisations.’

A Whole Foods spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm we have signed a lease as a tenant with Bourne Capital, but we don’t have any additional updates at this time.’

Metro has contacted Westminster City Council for comment.

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