‘We’re heartbroken,’ say devastated customers as iconic & much-loved shop closes – with bosses blaming WFH ‘snowflakes’
SHOPPERS have been left “heartbroken” after an iconic and beloved shop closed down after 60 years – with bosses blaming work from home culture.
Office workers reportedly used to queue around the block for a sandwich or cup of coffee before the pandemic changed everything.
I Camista & Son was originally opened in 1929 by Ennio and Isidoro Camisa right in the beating heart of London.
The first store was forced to close during the Second World War when the brothers were detained alongside thousands of other Italian immigrants after their home country allied with Hitler’s Germany.
The pair reopened the shop at a new location in 1948 before ending their partnership in 1961, at which point Isidoro moved it back to its original site.
Catering largely to the thousands of workers who flocked to nearby offices every day, it was a Soho institution for more than six decades.
The delicatessen offered handmade Italian sandwiches, delicious coffee and dry goods like pasta.
Sadly, though, it has all come to an end as the drop in the number of people making their way into the city centre for work has meant it is “no longer viable” to run.
Today was the final day of trading, with a sign announcing the closure hung in the window.
Longtime customer John Bryer told MailOnline: “It is a shame as there are very few places that sell this kind of produce.
“Before Covid, you would come here at lunchtime and there would be a queue outside the door of people buying salami sandwiches.
“Now when I come I never see a queue.”
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that a whopping 44% of Brits now work from home at least part-time, rising from just 12% before the pandemic.
The closure notice from I Camisa staff read: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of I Camisa & Son on Old Compton Street.
“Due to the significant reduction in office workers following the pandemic, the economics of running the store at this location are no longer viable.
“Despite the support of our landlord, we are unable to continue operating here.”
Working from home breeds sluggish, self-indulgent culture
By Leo McKinstry
DEVISED as an emergency measure during the Covid lockdown, the practice of working from home has remained stubbornly in place long after the end of the pandemic.
Its continued widespread use partly reflects its popularity among staff, who relish the more relaxed approach it brings, especially through the reduction in commuting.
Such is the enthusiasm in Britain for this change that, among developed countries, only Canada has a higher rate of working from home.
Yet every revolution has its downsides. What is cherished by many workers may not be good for the economy, nor wider society.
For a start, there is a danger that the practice could fuel resentment, since a vast range of jobs cannot be carried out at home — from healthcare to hospitality, from retailing to road haulage.
Indeed, 60 per cent of British workers are based fully in the workplaces and spend no time operating remotely by smart technology. This division is all the more acute because those who enjoy the privilege of working from home tend to be better paid and are more likely to be university graduates.
But there is an even bigger problem.
Contrary to the early claims that the practice boosted dynamism by making staff happier, it is now clear from a wealth of research that working from home actually lowers productivity, stifles creativity, undermines staff unity and weakens the ability of management to run their organisations.
In many places, unsurprisingly, this option breeds a sluggish, self-indulgent culture, where employees are easily distracted and become reluctant to put in the hours. At its worst, working from home can be a form of institutionalised skiving.
Too many public bodies now seem more focused on the wishes of the staff than the needs of the public.
The rise in working from home across our public services has been accompanied by a fall in the quality of delivery.
On every front there is crisis, from the paralysis in the courts to the failing air traffic control system, just as huge asylum backlogs are matched by a paralysed rail network.
Contemptuous of the public, much of the state workforce is in a permanent mood of sullen rebellion, despite generous pay, holidays, hours and pensions. And nothing will change if this management does not assert itself.
Working from the beach is a symbol of a British state that has lost all morality and purpose.
One employee, who had worked at the store for 25 years, added that management had looked over books and found that the numbers “don’t add up”.
They said: “[Workers] are not going to get a train just to come into I Camisa.
“We would be busy at lunchtime and then we would have a second rush at 6pm as everyone is finishing for the day and they need to pick up something for dinner.
However, there is still some hope for the future and the shopfront sign added: “The name of I Camisa will remain with us and we are exploring the possibility of relocation the business… in the near future.”
And those loyal fans still craving their I Camisa fix can still buy their favourite products online at alvini.com.
