By Crystal Tai
While many shop owners of the 160-year-old Graham Street Market are contemplating being forced to move out, a group of expats are growing their business inside the redevelopment zone.
“Since we started this business four months ago, we’ve seen increasing sales and the word has spread out that we exist,” said Michael Hyvärinen, general manager at Feather and Bone, a deli that sells curated products from Europe, Australia and the US.
A small grocery stores in the area provides an alternative choice for people who look for quality food at lower prices, Mr. Hyvärinen said. “At the supermarket, the guy just puts meat in the bag but he can’t tell you how to cook it,” he said.
Small food outlets that sell farm produce are a trend in Europe to counter against grocery giants like Walmart and Amazon, he said.
With food scares such as foot-and-mouth disease in the UK, people are becoming more conscious of their food source, he said. Feather and Bone knows where their food comes from.
Mr. Hyvärinen said he sees the redevelopment as an opportunity. “Shops grow and die. The locals are worried because their stalls have been well-established and they rely on their ties to run their business.” he said.