Where do I even begin?
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| The Palm 2 drawn from Clapton Pond |
Trust me, the Palm 2 is way more than just a grocers. You can get your cup of Fair Trade Coffee from Hackney based Climpson&Sons, your daily bread fresh from E5 Bakery, Craft Beers, exotic produce, fresh seafood and a buffet of fresh baked in house turkish food for take away, except Fridays when its homemade gourmet pizza on the take away menu. Even today I went and got a bag of fresh apricots for 54p and Roast Lamb already cooked to take away for £3.50. ROAST LAMB PEOPLE! In the summer they host block party BBQs featuring live local musicians. When did your TESCO EXPRESS last do that?
Name: Abdullah Solak
Name: Soleyman Solak
Name: Ania
I pop into this shop at least once a day. I am a devoted and loyal customer. When I was looking to buy my flat I originally made an offer on a place that was a 10 min walk away from the Palm 2. However, a week later a place came on the market that was only a 1 min walk away and I ended up removing my offer on the first place so I could pay more money to move closer to the Palm 2. That's how much of a worshipper I am of the Palm 2.
Plus the people who work at the Palm 2 are equally committed to their customers. Looking for something the Palm 2 doesn't sell? Write it down on their request list and they will get it for you! Have a regular coffee order? They will have it ready and prepared the way you like it daily (suck it starbucks) When I was moving I went to the Palm 2 looking for boxes to pack my stuff in. They refused to give them to me on the basis that I wasn't allowed to leave them (When I explained I was just moving down the street and so they were happy to give me all the boxes I needed though).
In addition to my pencil sketch (see above) I went into the shop and interviewed three of the Palm 2's employees. People I see everyday, who have had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing me walk in the shop in my PJ's barely awake looking for some breakfast or toilette paper on a semi regular basis. It's weird, I probably see the folks who work at the Palm 2 more than my family or closets friends but yet I know so little about them.
Well that all changed today, so please enjoy my interviews complimented by sketches of three of the Palm 2's finest employees!
(I didn't tape record the interviews so I am paraphrasing all the answers, apologies)
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| Abdullah Solak. Owner and Founder of Palm 2. All Hail! |
Number of years at the Palm 2: 22. I use to be a shoe maker in a shop on Homerton High Street. In this building (the Palm 2) there was a ladies clothing manufacturers. I came to visit and got to know the owner, he was from Cyprus. I spoke a little a Greek. I noticed there was a big empty space in the back (where the kitchen and deli is now) since there use to be a chemist there who had just moved out (the chemist moved across the street and is still in business btw). I asked the owner, a Jewish man, if I could hire the space. He asked me what I was going to do with it, "it better not be a gambling club!" he said. So I told I would sell food. Then he said 'Ok!' If I told him I was going to open a gambling club he probably wouldn't have let it to me. So I opened the shop and 6 months later my brother came to join me and I got more confident in the business. My brother and I still run the shop today.
Best thing about working at the Palm 2: So many people from around the world come here. It makes me happy meeting people from so many different cultures. Even amongst my staff we speak 12 languages between us!
Weirdest Customer (besides me): Too Many! Although once these three men came into the shop to offer us 'protection' for £10,000! Luckily they left and never came back. I think its because we have the Martial Arts studio upstairs!
Favourite Item in the Shop: All the fresh food! And the pasta with olives and parmesan cheese!
Favourite Place in Hackney besides the Palm 2: Candella
Why TESCO sucks: They wanted to buy my shop! I wouldn't sell and they got angry and opened up right next door. It makes me so angry!
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| Soleyman Solak. Nephew of Abdullah. Always Smiling. |
Number of years working at the Palm 2: 10 years
Best thing about working at the Palm 2: The environment is very friendly, it makes me happy to work here.
Weirdest customer (besides me): People come in trying to scam us by asking for change and trying to confuse us with the amount they give us. Also Halloween people come dressed up in all sorts of costumes. Once a guy came in dressed like a cock (rooster)!
Favourite Item in the Shop: The Alcohol selection!
Favourite Place in Hackney besides the Palm 2: The Clapton Hart is cool.
Why TESCO sucks: Because they are bullies and capitalist trying to kill small businesses around here.
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| Ania |
Years working at the Palm 2: 3 years nearly.
Best thing about working at the Palm 2: Its never boring. Lots of people from all countries and cultures, they all shop here.
Weirdest customer (besides me): Oh so many! I can't list one, ask me again later!
Favourite item in the shop: Everything. You can get everything here. Even if we don't have it, Abdullah will get it and sell it to you even if he doesn't even make a profit from it.
Favourite place in Hackney besides the Palm 2: Millfield's Park. I walk there every morning. Its very pretty.
Why TESCO sucks: They are a big supermarket killing smaller shops. People complain that TESCO is cheaper, but its not true. They have no selection. Its always the same stuff with no customer service. Here (at the Palm 2) you can get so much stuff and the people are always nice.
Well there you have it folks! So if you haven't figured it out yet: TESCO IS THE WORST.
If you are ever find yourself staying in Hackney come check out the Palm 2 and fall in love with this special place. They have just started a 'pop up' dinner club at their new restaurant/bar/event space on the floor above the shop. Special guest chefs (including Soleyman!) cooking up specialties and exotic food and hostcooking classes. COOKING CLASSES PEOPLE! Seriously, if I haven't convinced you to ditch TESCO for the Palm 2 then there is something seriously wrong with you.
More info about events at the Palm 2 can be found here.
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