Wild Cherries – withered? or whither?
One of the first – if not THE first – vegetarian restaurants in Tower Hamlets, the Wild Cherry, has just closed after 30 years. People in Bethnal Green know the Buddhist businesses that cluster around the temple in the Roman Road and this closure is the second in as many months, the other being Friends Foods – an organic health food grocer of almost an equal lifespan. But recession is only part of the reason they closed.
Common Knowledge’s office is in the next street and we’ll miss summer-time lunches in ‘the girls’ backyard under the multicoloured flags. Soup, quiche, baked potatoes, weird curries, shepherdess pie (no meat) and cakes – and for many years the only decent cup of coffee in the area.
These buddhist businesses have depended in the past on the concept of ‘right livelihood’ which brings ‘mindfulness’ to the art of providing a service to the community – their own and the greater one. They were usually single sex – hence our nickname of ‘the girls’ for the Cherry – and depended on part-time voluntary work-scheduling of members of the FWBO buddhist community. In return workers would get food, help with housing and access to meditation retreats in the country .
The difficulty proved to be sustaining a voluntary work-force with sufficient knowledge of the business day in, day out. The fact it lasted as long as it did is a credit to the collectives that worked there. Only in the last year did they succomb to a paid manageress and the odd bloke working there and the finances couldn’t support it.
Meanwhile Evolution, the gift-shop continues using the ‘right livelihood’ model. I can only hope that the demise of the Wild Cherry and Friends Foods is temporary whilst the FWBO re-group for a reincarnation.
Feb 16th 2010
To confirm – FWBO are looking for suggestions for what to do with Wild Cherry’s premises. I know this ‘cos I’m on the London Buddhist Centre mailing list. I’m told that the Friends Foods store is being used for 2nd hand clothing.
I was so sad to see them go, but not entirely surprised. I think once their lunches cost over a fiver and were more expensive than the rival Gallery Cafe in Old Ford Road, I was less inclined to choose them. But thanks for digging out the other reasons, John, as an accountant it’s always good to know!
Feb 24th 2010
It’s a great shame , I think we should run a competition to come up with a new use for the space , it’s in an ideal place and there’s plenty of room for something ….. but what …. ?