Lolek is one of the Polish shops which have graced the locality in recent years, bringing the flavours of East and Central Europe along with Baltika, Tradicia, St James Supermarket, ASDA and Faris's Supermarket to the many newcomers who have joined us in Walthamstow. There is another, longer established Polski Sklep just off the High Street. Lolek, at 58 St James's Street differentiates itself from the others and its immediate neighbours by having a lilac frontage with orange trimmings and a large sign over the premises in black and white with home-made, airbrushed stenciling for the letters and phone number (07973426116).
This shop opens from the gentlemanly hour of 10.00am Mondays to Saturdays, shutting at 8.00pm during the week and 7.00pm on Saturday. There is a lie-in on Sunday till 11.00am, with business stopping at 4.00pm.
I don't know why the shop is called Lolek, a name it shares with a popular Polish cartoon character and a well-known Polish Pope. Inside the shop they offer the kinds of sausage and bread one expects to see in Polish shops, along with drinks, crisps, snacks and other ambient goods and confectionary for the homesick. The usual pile of free magazines to help people network in Polish grace the floor by the door.
In the windows there is an advert for the nearby Mr Jacks, extolling the Polish Karaoke, 'Polska Dyskoteka' and Salsa on offer in that establishment, along with adverts for the proverbial builders (07896217575), flats and rooms on offer in Polish for the discriminating, and advice in English, but in a continental hand (presumably belonging to Linda) that a 'Sauna Massage' somewhere has 'Stuff Required'.
Lolek is opposite the Coach and Horses, next door to Michael Bell Accounting.
metyu
While I'm here, I thought I'd say that I love your exploration of Walthamstow. Not being a resident, I don't always read it, but I think more people should take an interest in their locale. This is probably what ultimately constitutes sustainability: engagement and involvement of communities; monitoring of what you've got and what you need; criticisms and congratulations and struggle to make things better.
I was thinking similar things on a trip through Finsbury Park recently. The Faltering Fullback looks amazing from the outside; I haven't been in there, but I couldn't help thinking what a delightful contribution it makes to the surroundings. (http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub695.html)
If more people took an interest in what their surroundings were like, I am sure the results would work wonders on our built environment, and the well-being of our communities - particularly our children.
I'm rambling again... Keep up the good work!
M.