Latin American Businesses in E&C – 20 years in the making
A Photographic presentation for ‘The Siege of the Elephant’
17th November 2012
The photographic chronology below showing the growth the Latin American traders and businesses in The Elephant has been generously provided for our use by Dr. Patria Roman-Velazquez from the Department of Sociology, City University in London with two added photos courtesy of Luis Naranjo, a local trader and some we added from our memories of visits to a few places.
From the notes taken during the session on Displacement at The Siege of The Elephant event:
“There has been a successful Latin American Recognition Campaign in The Elephant and this has recently succeeded in gaining the description ‘Latin American’ on Council Ethnic Monitoring forms. Patria mentioned that the notion of The Elephant being branded as a ‘Latin Quarter’ has sometimes been spun by the Council and developers often against the interests of that community. The spin plays on the supposed ‘vibrancy’ of the Latin American businesses in the area (presumably to attract investment for new developments).
So although there has been a recognition, there has been very little actual consultation and very little real information being passed down from the Council, the Shopping Centre and other agents in the regeneration telling all local traders what is happening and what might be happening to them re: rents, re-location and so on. There was also for a long long time no serious attempt to have translators during meetings and consultation for the Latin American traders.
Combined with the length of the regeneration process at Elephant, this lack of accountability and respect had tended to foster a certain apathy amongst traders who were unable to make any decisions about their futures on such a lack of info and guarantees. A fear of a considerable raising of rents and rates meant many traders are concerned about displacement from an area that has had a Latin American population for nearly 20 years now.
With the changing demographics that comes with new residents of the expensive houses going up, a lot of Elephant traders (such as the small shops and the market stalls) feared that their businesses would stop ‘fitting’ in the area and they were concerned that there was a danger to this community on the horizon. It was also felt that the Council was not committed to the Latin American retailers”.
1994: LA FOGATA in the ELEPHANT SHOPPING CENTRE
1994: LA BODEGUITA and EL COSTURERITO
2006: SABOR LATIN
2006: LA BODEGUITA with new more permanent structure
2006: LUCY’S HAIRDRESSING SALON
2006: LATIN AMERICAN FOOD
2006: MINISTRY of SALSA / LOS ARRIEROS restaurant, CASTLE HOUSE (demolished)
2006: Hamburgruesas del Migue booth on corner of Ministry of Salsa (above photo). Nice photo project here of Columbian teens at the above.
2008: INARA TRANSFERS
2008: LA TIENDA
2008: NICOLES (Previously Costurerito)
2008: Medellin-Y-Su Moda
2008: LA BODEGUITA RESTUARANT
2009: RINCON DEL SUR
(Photo: Internet)
2009: TIENDAS DEL SUR
2009: ARCHES AT EAGLES YARD BEHIND STRATA TOWER
(Photo: Luis Naranjo)
Late 2009: ARCHES AT EAGLES YARD BEHIND STRATA TOWER
(Photo: Luis Naranjo)
2009: LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY USING THE GRASS AT ELEPHANT RD FOR FOOTBALL BEFORE IT WAS FENCED OFF FOR OAKMAYNE DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION. THE SITE IS STILL BOARDED UP AND EMPTY TODAY (2012)
2009: VIDA LOCA
2009: EL PAISITA (formerly Rincon Del Sur)
(Photo: Internet)
2010: Brazilian businesses at the base of Draper House marking the beginning of the slow spread of Brazilian traders at Elephant and Walworth. We will be adding in pics of the Brazilian store and the bar on Walworth Rd when we get round to taking some pics. Also not taking the pics at night, like this one!! (Dec 2012) Muito Bom! Cafe do Babado is on the first floor next to the hairdressers.
2011: CHATICA
2011: BOLA 8
(Photo: Internet)
2011: LA FAMA and ELEPHANT COFFEE
(Photo: Internet)
2011: CASTLE BRASSERIE now Colombian run with Colombia food
2011: ARCHES AT STRATA
2011: DONDE LUCHO (formerly El Paisita)
2012: MACONDO (formerly Donde Lucho)
2012: SABOR PERUANO (formerly Macondo)
USEFUL BACKGROUND MATERIAL:
Latin American response to Southwark Supplementary Planning Document 2011
“Introduction: The document recognises the presence of Latin American business in the area and the need to make sure that this is not lost as a result of the regeneration of the E&C (p23 point 2.3.2 / p32 point 4.1.2). Our response to the SPD draft document asserts the significance of these shops and addresses those points that could threaten the presence of Latin American retailers in the area”
Prepared by Patria Roman-Velazquez
Endorsed by
Juan Camilo Cock – Migrants Rights Network
Carolina Velázquez – Latin American Women Rights Services (LAWRS)
Carlos Burgos – Latin American UK Forum & Pedro Achata Trust
César Quintero – Distriandina (Retailer Elephant Road Arches)
Luis Naranjo – Corporación Naranjo (Retailer Eagles Yard Arches)
Marlen Cabezas – Latin American Education Action Services Latin American Recognition Campaign
• Elephant & Castle should be official Latin American district, say campaigners
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5623
• Latin American presence at Elephant is “under threat”, Deputy Mayor told
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5871
in which Richard Barnes demonstrates no real knowledge or wisdom on how displacement works: “Mr Barnes acknowledged that Latin American businesses have contributed to the vibrancy of the shopping centre in recent years: ‘I think we have got to recognise what you have achieved and try to identify ways in which that achievement can be carried forward. I can’t believe that there are first and second-tier [retailers] – such as Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and whoever else – who are queuing up to take over large spaces in the refurbished Elephant & Castle. That will perhaps come with time as its economic vibrancy is sustained and it is rebuilt. It is the traders who are there who can sustain that economic community and attract people in there. What draws the Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and BHSes of this world is people with money in their pockets who are going to a specific space to spend that money‘.”
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Home from Home is an exhibition of photographs and stories by Eva Sajovic and Sarah Butler, which presents a snapshot of the Elephant and Castle at the beginning of the 21st century. Parts of the photo-documentation includes interviews with several local Latin Americans. We like it a lot here at Southwark Notes. Check photos and interviews below:
Southwark Notes - whose regeneration? 