By Elliott West
“A paradise for the bargain-hunter-with-time, London’s “Electric Avenue” is the shopping mecca for cameras, computers, hi-fi and hi-tech electrical goods”.
Introduction
Situated in South London and located at the heart of vibrant Brixton lies the famous Electric Avenue. Named so as it was one of the first streets in Britain to have electric street lighting, this London landmark has been a noted shopping destination with its true pomp in the Victorian era, originally built in the 1880s. Once dubbed the “Oxford Street of the South”, the street was originally adorned with sweeping glazed iron canopies that protected the lamps, covering the pavements on both sides of the street and a high-end retail experience that included shops such as the chemist Bonanza and Parke’s, the department store Bon Marche and the drapery store Quin and Axtens. However, this South London attraction was badly damaged by World War II bombings and the original structure was removed in the 1980s.
A Modern Approach
Electric Avenue may not look like it once did but this Brixton street immortalised in the 1983 Eddy Grant song of the same name is actually about the riots at the time. It still has a strong standing with shoppers keen to visit this treasure trove. A culinary delight that sells a wide range of diverse and eclectic foods in its food market with Caribbean and African influences. The area is also a haven for bargain hunters with cameras, audio equipment, hair and beauty products, wigs, fishmongers, butchers, bakers, and fruit and flower shops all prevalent in this London street.
Surrounded by Brixton Village, a covered area of the market, that contains quirky shops and a plethora of cafes and restaurants. Nearby is also the famous Brixton Academy which was originally opened in 1929 as a cinema, converted into a discotheque in 1972 and then reborn as a concert hall in 1983. Briefly closed, the Brixton Academy is a venue that attracts the best in music this building that is situated at 211 Stockwell Road and has played host to musical artists such as The Clash, Dire Straits Sex Pistols, The Police, Madonna and Leftfield in the past.
Tragedy
Electric Avenue was marred by one significant incident. In 1999, the Neo-Nazi bomber David Copefield planted a nail bomb outside a supermarket on Brixton Road intending to ignite a race war across Britain. Although not as deadly as it could have been after a market trader became suspicious and moved the device to a less crowded area of Electric Avenue, the bomb still injured 39 innocent people.
A Treasure
If you blinked, especially at night, you would probably walk past Electric Avenue but the multicoloured neon sign draws you in. It runs between Brixton Road and Atlantic Road, a short distance south of Brixton underground station. Granted a Heritage Lottery fund grant in 2014 of £2.6 million for a makeover and a badly needed refurbishment of the buildings along the street, it now looks brighter and vibrant. A street that is steeped in history and has many stories to tell.
