London to Lose Yet Another Local Landmark

As of a week ago, London Board of Control and City Council has given approval for a demolition permit of the 160-year-old Tiffins Market Building on King Street. According to Wikipedia, it is one of the last of the two still-standing pioneer buildings on the north side of King between Ridout and Talbot.

In the unorthodox move, Council declared that since the local landmark is 'old' and because the the most vocal members of the 'Downtown City Task Force' consider it to have no 'architectural merit,' - it is probably for the best that it be turned into a paved surface parking lot.

A majority of members of council also referred to the building as a 'dump' and an 'embarrassment' due to the fact that the decades-owned family business was also located on one of the tourist-congested 'Gateways' to 'Downtown London' and our 'historic' city core.

When questioned by a cub-reporter for the SonnyDrysdaleMediaEmpire, patrons of the quaint little produce grocer called 'Tiffins,' located only half a block down the street from the notoriously over-priced city-owned 'Covent Garden Market' said that they would be very sad to see the place go.

"It has the most reasonably-priced locally grown vegetables in town," lamented one long-time shopper. "And I like the original wooden plank floors. My shopping cart at the A&P in Westmount always seems to have a mind of its own."

Said another satisfied and content customer, "There are no other places downtown where you can choose to buy either a carton of ossified eggs or a carton with a few of the 'cracked' variety - for half a buck less!"

"I come here for my Halloween shopping every year," said Robert J. Pegg of nearby Becher Street. "I appreciate the opportunity to buy unshelled peanuts as something to give out to high school-age trick-or-treaters who don't even go to the trouble to come up with a decent costume. Or at least put on one of those 'Scream' masks."

Pegg also noted that he liked the fact that the guy with the small nose and slightly receding hair line who occassionally worked behind the counter looked just a lot like his Dad.

But most of all, patrons said they would miss the personal attention given to them by current owner and family member Linda Tiffin. "She will be missed," said one.

Reportedly, local heritage activists are all up in arms about these latest plans by London's Planning Committee in their attempt to rid London of all 'old' buildings - and more specifically, 'personality' and 'character.'

But not is all lost, say some.

As an example, rookie councillor Gordie Fumes promises that there is no way council will okay the demolition permit for the 'Forrest Furs' building just to the west on King Street of the apparently now-doomed Tiffins building.

"There is no way *that* building is going to go," insists Fumes. "It is a well-known fact that the upper floors of Forrest Furs have long served as rehearsal space for most of our 'independent' and 'alternative' bands.

"Well, I'm here to tell you that LONDON, ONTARIO is a neutering environment for any artists. Even those who play that 'Grunge' music. If I have anthing to do with it, someday London will be known as a creative city.

"Forget all about the old 'Forest City' image.

"Forrest Furs is no danger of falling to developers," Fumes thoughtfully noted.

"Believe me, that building will be around as long as the Pyramids or well, let's say, 19 King. Just down the block.

"C'mon man, think about it - 19 KING STREET is like an arts incubator. It's a destination point for all of us kids. EVERYONE who is ANYONE has developed their craft in that building.

"Either that, or I'm just a phoney hypocritical opportunistic big bag of wind who doesn't really give a shit about the Downtown or local culture or the 'Ahhts," added Fumes over the phone from his home in Byron.