Shopkeeper Abdul – one of the biggest hearts in London
His store has been plastered in supportive messages
THE owner of a popular neighbourhood store is celebrating after being named among the “biggest hearts” in the capital.
Abdul Safy, who has run Fleet Food and Wine off-licence in South End Green for 18 years, has won the “Biggest Heart in London” award from the Heartfelt Repairs Co – a design and branding company.
Since then his shop been decorated with hearts filled with messages of admiration by his customers.
He often gives out a special homemade remedies to customers who are unwell – containing mint, fresh turmeric and ginger.
Mr Safy, 45, told the New Journal: “If you treat people one way, they will treat you the same.
“I think the [judges] saw me engaging with local people and talking to them and that’s it.
“They come again and again and check me out. There is nothing I dislike about the area.
“Recently we had problems with people with drug problems. They have been pushed up this way.”
But he said that despite opening until midnight he had never had to call the police since he took over, adding: “To be honest with you, I think this is like the Guinness World Records for this shop that we have not called the police in like 16 years.
“I always try to keep the shop clean, healthy and well.
“Also, people are talking about racism – I’ve never faced racism either here. As I said, ‘you treat people well and they treat you the same way’.”
On his special tonic remedy for customers, Mr Safy said that people didn’t need to buy traditional products like Lemsip and Paracetamol.
“When people have cold and flu and other issues, they come and say ‘Abdul I’m not well’. It’s basically fresh ginger, fresh turmeric roots, fresh green tea leaves and fresh mint.
They take this home and I tell them to transfer it to a glass cup.
like this and boil water and a bit of honey.
“They come back and say ‘wow that was amazing’.”
Mr Safy said his big sellers are staples: bread, milk and butter while others come-in for fizzy drinks.
“To be honest with you, everything sells. Weekend, people like to drink alcohol. It’s quite a nice community.”
One of the heart messages described the shop as “the heartbeat of the community”.
Another has the message “Abdul <3 Mimi” in homage to the relationship between him and a cat that comes to visit the shopfront for many hours of the day.
Mimi was there when the New Journal dropped in on Monday.
“She is not my cat,” he said. “We can’t have a cat in the shop. When I’m sitting outside, she won’t go anywhere.
She spends five to six hours with me. People on the street take photos of me and show them to me. They are so cute.”
Another regular is Patricia, who has lived in the area for 30 years.
“Everyone loves Abdul,” she said. “He’s the best, believe me. Thousands around here rely on him, particularly the old people.”
Mr Safy said he had enjoyed seeing three generations of Patricia’s family pass through the shop and has fond memories of meeting her 11-year-old grand- daughter after she had been born.
And Mr Safy said he was a big fan of the New Journal, adding: “It’s important for older people.
“If you print my story, you’ll be surprised how many people will read it.”
