Residents have decried the planned move, saying the chain would ‘dismantle’ the character of Orford Road while ‘threatening’ the existence of independent businesses, reports Marco Marcelline

Hundreds of Walthamstow residents have signed a petition against the opening of upmarket bakery chain Gail’s in the Village.

A Change.org petition which has been signed by 444 people at the time of writing, says Gail’s could “overshadow” the “much-loved” independent businesses on Orford Road, and “dismantle the character and diversity crucial to Walthamstow’s charm”.

The bakery chain, which opened its first store in Hampstead in 2005, now has 130 shops across the UK. It was founded by the Israeli baker Gail Mejia and the businessman Ran Avidan, and was acquired by Bread Holdings in 2011.

The petition’s description reads: “Walthamstow Village, a vibrant local neighbourhood in London, UK, is treasured for its collection of local, independent, and family-run businesses. Our high street, a spotlight for these coveted establishments, faces a threat to its uniqueness with the prospect of Gail’s, a large-scale bakery chain, setting up shop on it.

“Gail’s, although respected for their quality, bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach. This could lead to decreased visibility and pedestrian traffic towards independently run businesses, threatening their very existence and dismantling the character and diversity crucial to Walthamstow’s charm.”

Residents also expressed their opposition to the bakery chain’s part-owner Luke Johnson, who in December shared articles from right-wing media outlets slamming “wokeness” and decrying “the deranged defence of Hamas” at university campuses.

One local, Lucy Barnes, commented under the petition: “If you came out to the counter protest in Walthamstow but you back Gail’s in Walthamstow then you’re a huge hypocrite. This man’s narrative is the exact fuel that feeds the far right. We do not want them in our borough.”

Melvin Venables, who runs popular brunch spot The Kitchen said it was “a shame” that a chain, which was “not [his] cup of tea”, could come to Orford Road.

While he wasn’t worried that it would pose a threat to his own business, he expressed concern it could financially knock the three independent bakeries that operate on Orford Road.

He also predicted that local opposition to Gail’s would eventually die down: “People say they won’t go now but they probably will when it opens. The big risk is that other chains may move in.”

Another independent business owner on Orford Road who did not want to give his name said he had reservations about Gail’s partly because of its “awful part-owner and his terrible views”.

While admitting the arrival of the bakery chain wouldn’t harm his business and it may increase footfall to the area, he said he was worried about the risk of landlords increasing rents to entice more chains to the high street.

Criticising the landlord’s decision to rent the space to a chain, he said: “The landlord quite selfishly chose not to divide it into two units, he’s effectively cut off most avenues to independent businesses coming on. I’ve heard there were independent businesses that wanted to move into the space but what [the landlord] is charging for that space is unaffordable.”

He added: “I don’t think any chain on Orford Road is a good idea.”

In contrast to the wave of online opposition to Gail’s, Theo Milford, a local, said he would be “very happy” for it to open in Walthamstow Village.

He told the Echo: “I’ve tried most of the coffee places within a ten minute walk of Wood Street but when I want a nice breakfast and decent coffee I go to the Wanstead Gail’s. Sometimes chains become chains because they’re good.”

Theo added that he did not share the views of those who opposed Gail’s because of the political leanings of its owners. “I wasn’t aware of any right-wing connections with Gail’s ownership or the (former) links to Israel, but for a town that considers itself a diverse and welcoming place I worry if we only welcome people who agree with us politically.”

He continued: “I’ve lived in East London for the last 13 years and I choose to stay because of the diversity. Inclusivity has to include people we disagree with.”

The unit that Gail’s has sought to take over was previously an Italian restaurant called Village Pizzeria before it shut several years ago.

Gail’s was contacted for comment.

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