Neeli Malik
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100 Days of Groceries - Original 2020 Photoblog

100 Days of Groceries is a photography project, exploring the aesthetics of buying groceries, documenting mostly independently owned stores in which people can buy food; greengrocers, corner shops, newsagents, markets, butchers, bakeries, fishmongers, etc. Each post will document a different establishment. Some of the photographs are taken in passing, but some of them I visited specifically. Some documentations will be accompanied by text, either conversational interviews with the workers in the shops, or simply my own observations of the shop at the time. Read more about the project here.

C&D Food & Wine (May 2020)

C&D Food and Wine, College Road, Kensal Green, May 2020

Interview with Jaymini Patel

Today (May 25th) is Jaymini’s birthday! Happy birthday!

C&D Food and Wine is owned and run by Jaymini Patel and her husband Pritesh Patel. I spoke to Jaymini when I came in to take photographs. They’ve been running the shop for twenty years. They live above the shop, and it’s where they raised their son, aged 19.

I asked her, what’s it like working here? She replied: “I like working here, being in the community. This is the best community EVER. I like the people around here, they’re so friendly. They’re so caring, and they’re so helpful. They’re loyal. They’re very supportive to the local shops. People around here are the best people.”

At that moment we were interrupted by a customer, named Kelly, who jokingly told me: “She likes ME the best!” She also told me that Jaymini’s birthday was soon (25th May).

I asked Kelly if she’d like to share any comments about the shop.

“I love these guys. They’re really kind. And they genuinely care about everything in the community. If somebody comes in and they don’t have enough money or anything like that, they’ll tell you, look, don’t worry, come back when you do. They’re good people. Really good people.” Kelly and Jaymini both reach towards each other, in a sort of socially-distant hug. “I’m quite emotional.” Kelly said.

As Kelly leaves the shop, Jaymini tells me she’d like to mention one big incident.

“Because of them [the customers] we are still here. It was about four years ago? Our landlord gave us, like, random notice to empty the shop and go. Our lease was coming to the end and he didn’t give us enough time, he just gave us six months, which officially he can. And he gave us the notice and that’s it. We didn’t know what to do, where to go. My kid’s born here, brought up here, we live above the shop. And this is what we have as a livelihood.

The community found out about this thing and they did a big petition online with the Brent council. The landlord already applied for planning permission which we didn’t know. And they found out; the public, all
the community, found out and got together and they stopped the planning permission for this property, and we got saved. I mean, it’s just amazing, amazing support. People around here, they are the best. Because of them, we are here. And when the planning permission got declined – because the council saw the complaints from the community, the landlord had to cancel the planning. And so, we sorted out our lease – he charges us more but at least I’m not complaining. We got an extra ten years extension. Because of the public,
otherwise we would have gone by now.

Lots of support, in this community, like with the library. They all supported us. And I think because of them, we are here, and we owe them. Every day I do my prayers and I pray for this community. I cannot forget their support. Never. Wherever I go, even after this, they’ll be always in my thoughts. People around here they, oh my god, some people used to come and give pamphlets and go door to door, asking people to go online and sign the petition, and it was really touching. Really heart-touching moments those were. And when the council came to, you know, have a look around – because they have to see where property is located, there were like twenty, thirty people already here to support.”

I asked her what her hopes and plans were for the future were:

“Well, we don’t have a choice, because our lease is coming to the end in like, three years, and we can’t extend, because that was the deal, the commitment we made with the landlord when we renewed. But yeah after three years we just have to think of something else. But we would like to stay in this community.”

Another customer pipes in as he’s at the checkout. “You’re not leaving us?”

She laughs. “Not yet!”





























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