Oriental City
Oriental City: another London gem under threat
Oriental City doesn't look like much. The breeze block building could easily be mistaken for a multi-storey car park or a self-storage warehouse, its facade blending in nicely with the other greys on the Colindale stretch of the Edgware Road.
But inside it's a wonderland of food and shopping, mostly from China but 
with contributions from all over Asia. In the restaurants and packed food court you can stuff yourself with Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Japanese, Indian and Thai food. Or you can enjoy a bit of non-chainstore retail therapy in the supermarket and jewellery, furniture and pottery shops.
Better class of mall
This place has been a hidden London gem since it started life as the Japanese-owned Yaohan Plaza in the early 90s. It has since blossomed into the broader-based emporium it is today and attracts thousands of visitors, although it's never uncomforably crowded. Now the the owners of the building want to knock it down and turn it into a DIY warehouse and flats. And, guess what? Brent, the local council, has said 'yes'.
Just how ridiculous is this? Oriental City is a vital resource for the diverse local community. It's not tourist London or mediated London - it's the real thing and it needs to stay. How many of these places do we have to lose before we stop turning London into a sanitised theme park? There's a campaign underway to save Oriental City and Ken Livingstone will have the final say on its fate. Watch this space.
Stop press: the latest is that Oriental City is safe - at least until May 2008. Pay a visit and show your support.
