An ill-fated Kurdish-owned venture, Afrosia, which had been set up a few months ago on the site of the Stardust Photo and Video Centre has now closed. Confusing their identity in people's minds with the name and similar offers at the well established business Ambrosia, itself only a hundred or so yards up the road, its owners compounded their difficulties by opening in direct competition with a very well-known market stall also selling products aimed at the Afro-Caribbean market situated only a few feet away. They also did not help themselves by being unclear as to the prices they were charging, only advertising in metric measurements and offering their herbs prominently on their shelves when they were wilting. An attempt to re-focus the business away from fresh vegetables by installing freezer cabinets did not succeed. The premises are now being refurbished into a Chinese Shop,intending to sell jewelry and handcrafts in the £1 to £2 range.
At some point during the death-throws, they divided up and rented out the corner of the shop to yet another mobile phone accessories business.
2008-07-07 @ 04:52