It's either a sign of Islington advancing or people getting priced out of their homes, depending on how you want to look at it. The Woolworths at Angel has been bought by the slightly posher Waitrose, with the change-over of shops to be complete by the end of the year.
Waitrose manager Mark Price has said there has been great demand for one of the supermarkets in the area, and that those worried about the store providing unfair competition for the local Chapel Market needn't worry — they're looking to compete with the Liverpool Road Marks and Spencer, not humble vegetable stall owners (Price made no mention of the Sainsbury's a stone's throw away from the site).
Chapel Market Association Chairman Peter Adamides seemed to support this theory to the extent that he believe Woolworths provides more competition to market traders than Waitrose would. Londonist is inclined to agree that people wanting fresh and comparatively cheap fruit and veg aren't likely to abandon the street market for the glossy interiors of Waitrose. However, valid concerns have been expressed by many that the arrival of the upscale supermarket in Angel speaks volumes about the changing demographic of the neighbourhood, and how many households can afford to transfer from Woolworths to Waitrose.
Residents of Chiswick, Clapham, and Edgeware Road beware: the Woolworths in these areas will also be purchased by Waitrose. The swap is imminent.
Image courtesy of buckaroo kid via the Londonist Flickrpool.
