Much loved café is shutting up shop (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Much loved Tony's Northcote Café is shutting up shop

9:50am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in Freetime By Alexandra Rucki

A much-loved café which has been serving fry-ups for more than 25 years is shutting up shop.

Tony's Northcote Café, in Northcote Road, Battersea, is set to close this weekend, with a Turkish restaurant opening in it's place.

Owner Tony Kose, 58, said he is struggling to compete with bigger businesses in the area.

He has applied to run a street stall in Northcote Road instead, but Wandsworth Council said he has to wait for a year.

Mr Kose is now appealing to other businesses in the area to let him run a café from their premises, such as in bars and restaurants which only open in the evening.

The 58-year-old, of Carshalton, said: "It is very difficult to survive, working hard for nothing - I just had to call it a day.

"The area has 99 per cent changed. I think what is happening is it is so popular, there is a big change.

"There are big companies coming, and big companies pay more money."

Customer Ali Zaffar, of Lavender Sweep, Battersea, said punters will miss Tony.

He said: "Many local workmen and local residents had a great affection for Tony and would visit his café daily for breakfast, lunch, tea and coffee.

"It's not going to be long till the whole of Northcote Road becomes a mini Oxford Street - with large chain-stores but no individual small retailers. Sad."