One former Elephant and Castle shopping centre business has gone from strength to strength since the demolition, now opening a second branch in Camberwell.
John Parra, originally from Colombia, owns Dr Juice – a juice bar that was based in the Elephant and Castle shopping centre for five years, until it was demolished just over two years ago.
“I opened Dr Juice in March 2015,” he said.
“I was working for Marks and Spencer’s at the time when me and a couple of friends had the idea to open a juice bar.”
He explained that he saw a lack of healthy food businesses in the area, and saw the need to do something about it – “to help the community to become healthier.”
“In Colombia, there was always a glass of natural juice on the table. I wanted to bring that here.”
John had a successful juice bar inside the Elephant and Castle shopping centre.
He said although business was good, he only had a tiny space. “It was very small – about 2 metres wide and 3 metres long.”
The shopping centre was eventually demolished in 2020, but plans for its closure started long before that. The demolition affected many people differently and remains a controversial topic. According to Latin Elephant, some businesses are still waiting to be relocated.
That said, Dr Juice was one of the businesses that was relocated – and who it seems to have worked out for.
“Two years before it was demolished, I was told about the opportunity to move to the Elephant Arcade, where the business is now.”
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John noted that not everyone got a fair deal, and it was down to many factors that he has been able to build such a booming business since.
He said because of the developments to the area, a new customer base has been created.
“There is lots of new student accommodation here now, and students love juices and healthy options. So it does have a lot to do with the product. And the location is perfect too.”
Dr Juice, now right at the front of the Elephant Arcade, is in a prime location for attracting the masses of people passing by every day.
“But the success of the business is also down to adapting to change and taking advice.
John explained that he got help from local business mentors at Tree Shepherd, a service that helps people locally to establish their own enterprises, as well as supporting business-owners through the effects of regeneration.
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Sandra Ferguson, CEO of Tree Shepherd said: “The moment I met John at his little unit in the shopping centre I knew Dr Juice was a great business.
“There would always be queues of people lining up at lunchtime to purchase one of his healthy juices. He had a friendly demeanour with his customers and his prices were also reasonable.
“Tree Shepherd helped John to secure a grant to relocate his business to his new unit in Elephant Arcade. This involved providing business support and advice – making sure John had a viable business plan, a new menu, equipment, as well as resources to organise the actual move.”
She added: “He could see the potential and how his business could grow. His quest to get the local community to take care of their health clearly paid off and we are so pleased to see his business go from strength to strength.”
A couple of months ago, he opened a second store in Camberwell.
Dr Juice sells fresh juices, smoothies, fruit salads, and soups made to order, as well as a range of healthy hot dishes too.
“It is a privilege to have served so many happy custumers over the years and hopefully it will continue way into the future.”
You can find Dr Juice in Elephant and Castle:
Unit 11b Elephant Arcade, 50 London Rd, SE1 6FY
And now in Camberwell:
319 Camberwell New Rd, SE5 0TF
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