Marks and Spencer’s Foodhall on Streatham High Road closed its doors for good on Saturday evening, prompting a petition to CEO Stuart Machin and a wave of local backlash, including threats to move to Tooting.
The store, located next to Aldi, was described as “busy” by locals. In response to the closure, a petition was set up addressed to Stuart Machin, arguing that the store “provides vital access to high-quality fresh food, serves as a crucial Click & Collect hub for local residents and employs dedicated local staff members.” At the time of writing, the petition had amassed over 2,000 signatures.
Local reactions on social media
Residents took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration. Joanna Mont called the closure a “sad day for Streatham,” even as she conceded it was the “epitome” of a “first world problem.” She added, “Sadly no closing party as rumoured, although someone was playing My Way on a portable speaker as customers and staff said goodbye at 6pm. Boo.”
Another user wrote, “Same. I’m considering selling up tomorrow and moving to Tooting. Or Winchester. This would never happen in Winchester.” M&S opened a new foodhall in Tooting Broadway in May this year. A separate shopper pledged to “break open the Percy Pigs & Pals in their honour,” while another mourned the area’s decline: “Sadly this end of Streatham is pretty much forgotten, what was going to be a Travelodge was filled with squatters until last week, Creative Soul left a couple of months ago that's going to be another coffee shop.”
Mixed views on supermarket saturation
However, not all reactions were negative. One South Londoner noted that despite fondness for the store, having four supermarkets on the same strip was excessive: “Loved this M&S when I lived in Streatham! Streatham having a Lidl, M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury's on the same road was a bit mad though.”
M&S statement on closure
Explaining the decision, an M&S spokesperson said, “As we reshape for growth, we want every store we have to deliver the very best of M&S and the best possible shopping experience. We'd like to thank all of our customers who shopped with us at Streatham High Road and we will continue working hard to serve residents at our nearby, bigger Streatham Hill store. We are opening four new stores in London this financial year, alongside six renewals, bringing M&S Food to more customers in the capital.”
The closure is part of M&S’s broader strategy to focus on larger, nearby locations, with the Streatham Hill store serving as the primary alternative for residents. The petition, which remains active, highlights ongoing community concerns about access to fresh food and local employment.
