A SHOP belonging to the international chain Costa Coffee was vandalised by protesters before it even opened its doors.
The words "Welcome to clone town" were daubed in black spray paint on side of the building overnight on Thursday last week.
It follows a row over fears that Didsbury village is becoming dominated by chain stores, forcing up rents and pushing out the independent shops.
Residents say they agree with the feeling behind the message, but disapprove of the illegal way it was carried across.
Didsbury Civic Society chairman Steve Parle said: "The sentiment is probably right, but graffiti isn't the right way of going about it.
"The only way people can stop Didsbury becoming a ‘clone town’ is to use the local independent shops. There’s an independent coffee shop just across the road so there’s no need to go elsewhere.
"The Deliciously Swiss bakery on Barlow Moor Road has just closed down because people weren’t going there, so if whoever wrote the graffiti wants to do something really productive they should start a campaign to use independent shops."
Costa, which has outlets across the world, is one of a growing number of big chains to set up shop in Didsbury over recent years.
The village is also home to major businesses like Pizza Hut, Subway, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Cafe Rouge and the Slug and Lettuce, although it still has a number of thriving independent businesses, including the Cheese Hamlet, The Art of Tea, Axons the butchers and Evans Fish-mongers.
Andy Cadman, 30, a hairdresser at Didsbury Barbers on School Lane, said he is fed up with the commercial culture taking over Didsbury.
He added: "There’s about 25 places that serve coffee here already. I support small local businesses. and think it’s good that someone. Obviously this isn’t the best way to show your opposition.
"I think the small establishments are just going to die out.
"What’s worse, though, is that in a few months time it’ll be full of all the people who complained about it in the first place – just like Tesco."
A spokesman for the coffee shop, which opened on Tuesday, September 29, said: "Costa is saddened to learn of the graffiti incident which took place last Friday on the outside of the store.
"Despite this small setback we look forward to working with the local community of Didsbury."
Showing comments 1 to 2 and replies | View All
Groucho F (03/10/2008 at 23:46)
It astounds me that we, the great British public can fall for such a con. It astonishes me even more that Didsbury folk can fall for it.
Like the protesters, I despise the intrusion of the likes of Costa and Marks. I truly miss the Village Saver and the ironmongers shop.
I use a local newsagent for my paper and always will....on the one occasion I tried to buy my paper with a prepaid voucher at M&S, I was told "We don't accept them here"...that would have nibbled into their profit margin.
A propos of the graffiti, I and my Didsbury neighbours have had to put up with this juvenile expression for years so, Costa,welcome to our world.
Will you be here in five years? I sincerely hope not.
Groucho F (04/10/2008 at 17:15)
I respect where he is coming from ie looking to turn a profit from property activity, but most people I talk to resent the arrival of yet another impersonal conglomerate.
As for the Coop, they do support local groups and whenevr I have spoken to them in the past, they are invariably constructive. The same applies to Evans and Cheese Hamlet...we are so lucky to have their businesses to hang on to some sort of village atmosphere.
Mr Hall's comment about the sourcing of the coffee made me laugh.