Tesco look to open in Blackheath Village
Tesco are looking to open a store in Blackheath Village on Montpelier Vale according to a separate planning application for a new bakery covered earlier today.
Earlier I covered plans for a branch of Ole & Steen at the former Lloyds Bank.
That plan also contains information that Tesco were interested but eventually declined:
As a result of this frontage, there were few enquiries from A1 general retailers, the most hopeful we received being from Tesco, but they were put off by the split level floor, which created internal access and racking issues, and also the difficulty in 24 hour servicing the
building using long wheel based vehicles.”
The application then states:
“I am informed that Tesco have taken the former Café Rouge in the heart of the village instead.”
The closure of Café Rouge in Blackheath was one of many announced in July 2020 by Casual Dining Group with the loss of 1,900 jobs.
A look at Lewisham’s planning website doesn’t reveal an application yet – though it can be slow to upload details. There’s one plan I’m aware of that should have seen details uploaded around three months ago and has yet to appear.
Whats the betting Blackheath residents would have preferred a Waitrose! Tesco not a cool look for an up market shopping area. And their environmental credentials are coming into question over their suppliers of products harming the Amazon rainforest, a big issue at the moment which Tesco are trying to ignore- since it would hurt their enormously profitable balance sheet. Shame on them. Food and profits before climate and environment eh Tesco?
It’s always surprised me that there are no major supermarket brands in Blackheath Village. Indeed, I’m sure residents would have preferred a Waitrose!
Murky seems to be posting a number of retail openings these days, which is surely a good sign the economy is showing some “green shoots”.
I would have thought possible a Waitrose Store or a M&S Simply Food Store. But good luck to Tesco if they get the planning permission. Lets remember Blackheath also have it’s fair share of elderly residents who will be grateful for a supermarket in the Village.
Lets remember these are the same residents that travel to Asda, Sainsbury, Tesco’s. Lidl and Aldi. for exmple. So a local supermarket (Convenience Store) in the Village will be very much welcomed for residents to pick up their daily essentials.
As CDT says there are a lot of elderly residents in the area. Some of which prefer to shop daily or every couple of days which is easier for them.
@CDT: there is a M&S store in nearby Old Dover Road and maybe management took the view not to split the revenue by having two close locations. I imagine that Waitrose took a look at this site and decided against for one reason or another. This is a shame as the schlep to the Greenwich store for non-drivers is a chore.
@anonymous201481. The M&S Food Store in Old Dover Road is a really nice store. However,unfortunately that is still a bus ride away from Blackheath Village for the elderly and people with mobility issues.
As is the larger M&S Store on Greenwich Retail Park in Charlton. As you rightly say getting to the store is a chore for non drivers.
Planet Organic or Whole Foods be best!
I could be wrong, but I glimpsed a pet store at what looks like this location from the bus I was on yesterday. I’m not surprised that Tesco or any the food business did not go ahead.
I was wrong. The old Cafe Rouge is currently being used as a pop up ‘artsy’ shop until December.