Walthamstow Village locals are trying to block Gail\u2019s as they fear its opening will lead them down a similar fate to other London neighborhoods, which have watched their high streets become consumed by homogenized chain stores in a now-standard process of gentrification.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eateries like Gail\u2019s, Franco Manca, and Wagamama have slowly entered areas with high levels of deprivation, often at the expense of independent competitors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These shops cater to middle-class London workers who have moved to outer boroughs like Waltham Forest in search of cheaper accommodation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGails, although respected for their quality, bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach,\u201d a statement attached to the petition reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis could lead to decreased visibility and pedestrian traffic towards independently run businesses, threatening their very existence and dismantling the character and diversity crucial to Walthamstow\u2019s charm.\u201d<\/p>\n
A total of 384 people had signed the petition<\/a> on Change.org as of 9:45 GMT this morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n A representative for Gail\u2019s didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n An undercurrent of the protest against gentrification lies in Walthamstow\u2019s reputation for progressive civic action, which has come to the fore following Israel\u2019s invasion of Gaza and, more recently, riots sweeping across the U.K.<\/p>\n Walthamstow held a massive counter-protest<\/a> following far-right demonstrations across major U.K. cities at the start of August. The anti-racism protest is estimated to have attracted a crowd of 10,000 to the streets of Walthamstow.<\/p>\n Locals have argued that this spirit is unlikely to align with the views of Gail\u2019s minority owner and chairman, Luke Johnson.<\/p>\n Chris Ratcliffe\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While he has been quieter in recent years, Johnson made waves with a series of comments championing the opportunities<\/a> of the U.K. leaving the EU. Waltham Forest voted<\/a> with a 59.1% majority to remain a part of the EU in the 2016 referendum.<\/p>\n In the wake of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson also spoke out against lockdowns, describing them as a \u201cmedieval\u201d policy<\/a>. Several hospitality bosses criticized lockdowns, which hit their businesses\u2019 profits.<\/p>\n Johnson has most recently taken to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the left as part of a widespread culture war, including protests over events in Gaza.<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent demolition of ghastly woke universities,\u201d Johnson posted on X<\/a> after sharing a December op-ed in the Telegraph <\/em>criticizing student protestors over allegations of antisemitism.<\/p>\n Johnson previously owned Pizza Express and the now-defunct bakery chain Patisserie Valerie. A proposed sale of Gail\u2019s in 2017 was put on hold due to Brexit before Bain Capital<\/a> took a controlling stake in 2021.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you came out to the counter-protest in Walthamstow but you back Gail\u2019s in Walthamstow then you\u2019re a huge hypocrite. This man\u2019s narrative is the exact fuel that feeds the Far Right. We do not want them in our borough,\u201d wrote one person in a comment under the petition.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s positions have probably helped exacerbate tensions over Gail\u2019s links to Israel, with pro-Palestine protestors calling for a boycott thanks to those links.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gail\u2019s was founded in 2005 by Israeli baker Gail Mejia, and entrepreneur Ran Avidan. It was acquired by Johnson\u2019s Bread Holdings in 2011.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nGail\u2019s outspoken chairman in the spotlight<\/h2>\n
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