'I Love Tottenham' Tales: Paradise Gems

Paradise Gems owner Steve Moore says Tottenham High Road "just seems quieter" since the riots

A second installment in our ongoing tale of businesses in Tottenham fighting to recover from the riots. 

Part II: Paradise Gems

On the morning of 7 Aug. jeweler Steve Moore walked to his workplace of the last 21 years on Tottenham High Road. The rubble was still smoking. After a night of rioting, Paradise Gems was gone, its safes buried, decades-worth of moulds destroyed.

Moore estimates he lost more than any individual trader in the borough--but, he says, don’t believe the destruction made him want to pack up and leave.

“If you think that, you don’t know me very well,” he said. “There’s too many good people in the area to let a few bad ones push you out."

Problems

The jeweler and pawnbroker is familiar with adversity. During 35 years in the business around the area, Moore says he’s been robbed over 20 times. 

While the challenge of rebuilding is a new one, Moore plans to relocate to nearby Bruce Grove property, recently vacated by real estate agents. That location should hold him until the original site can be rebuilt in about two years time. 

Meanwhile there is plenty to do, accounting for what was lost and reassembling any stock that made it through the fire. 

“It’s bad enough with insurance,” he said. “If I hadn’t had it, I would’ve topped myself.”

Even when the business can reopen other concerns remain.

“[Tottenham’s] gone absolutely dead for trade,” he said. “You don’t see many young people on the streets. Everybody wants it back as it was, but it’s not going to go back, at least for a while.”
 

The Comeback

After weeks of waiting, Moore thinks at least he will be able to return soon. His insurers paid an initial sum earlier this month, which should help relaunch the business. 

Today's announcement that Haringey Council will relieve business rates for small traders impacted by the riots could also provide a boost. 

All the time out of the shop began resembling a vacation, but Moore says he can’t wait to resume his trade, so that friends and customers in the area can “come past the shop, put their head in and wave,” just like they used to.

Read part 1 here.