A newly opened Gail’s bakery in Islington has been targeted by protesters over links to Israel
The café, located on Junction Road in Archway, has faced backlash from residents and businesses who accuse the chain of “killing local businesses”.
The shop’s windows were repeatedly smashed, and red graffiti sprayed across the shop front on the night of 19 February, and again on 24 February.
Phrases including “reject corporate Zionism”, “support local business” and “boycott” were painted across the shop.
The attacks reference Bain Capital, the US private equity firm that holds a majority stake in Gail’s. The firm has faced criticism and has been the subject of protests and backlash over million-dollar investments in Israeli technology and security industries and has publicly supported Israel.
The chain has expanded rapidly across the UK, and now operates more than 200 locations, but some Archway businesses say its arrival is an unwelcome sign of gentrification in the area.
Marianne Leigh, from local café Bread + Bean, said: “The first few weeks after it opened, we definitely noticed we were completely dead after like 3 to 4pm. It’s a lot quieter now and I think you can see that people are upset about it.”
Tamim Karimi of Holloway Road’s Phyllo Bakehouse added: “[Gail’s] should be closed, no one here in Archway wants it.”
Syed Akhtar of Archway Estates Lettings & Management said: “I’m not in favour of them being here, I think it will kill local businesses.”
Mahmoud Ismail who owns Café Metro, which sits on the same street as Gail’s, said many customers were boycotting the chain due to its Israeli ties.
“I don’t blame them [Gail’s], I blame the people who go there and support them.” He added: “We don’t need this, somebody who’s trying to kill independent businesses.”
“This is not a very rich area, so we want reasonable prices,” he said. “People are boycotting; people who support the independent cafes, people who support Palestine.”
Jan Popelinksy, of 68 Degrees speciality coffee, had a different view: “Every place will have their own customers, I have nothing against them.” She continued: “If anything, [Gail’s] opening has impacted me in a positive way, people who don’t like them find me.”
In a statement, Junction ward councillors James Potts, Sheila Chapman and Janet Burgess MBE condemned the vandalism: “We are appalled by the damage caused to Gail’s on Junction Road.”
Gail’s did not respond to a request for comment. However, Tom Molnar, the firm’s chief executive, told the Times that attempts to “intimidate and endanger” the cafe were “completely unacceptable.”
I understand why independent shop owners worry when a chain opens nearby. Competition is hard. But being a local business doesn’t automatically make a shop entitled to customers. People choose businesses for many reasons: quality, experience, reliability, price, and sometimes simply familiarity.
As a parent of a child with special needs, consistency matters to me. One thing chains like Gail’s Bakery offer is a predictable environment. Wherever we are in London, I know the space will be clean, calm, and the food will be consistent. That reliability is valuable.
Independent bakeries absolutely can thrive alongside chains. In places like Paris, many do exactly that by focusing on what makes them unique: a specific pastry, a distinctive style, or a strong identity that draws people in. They build loyal followings because they offer something special. Chains and independents often serve different needs. Gail’s is a premium experience that not everyone chooses every day. Other chains like Greggs serve a completely different price point. Consumers move between these options depending on their budget, mood, and what they’re looking for that day.
What I find troubling is the idea that vandalism or intimidation should be used to drive a business out of a neighbourhood. If people truly don’t want a business, the simplest response is not to spend money there. Markets resolve these questions very quickly.
In the end, businesses, whether independent or corporate, succeed when they provide something customers genuinely value. Urban economists often find that a strong chain opening can actually increase foot traffic, which sometimes helps neighbouring businesses rather than harming them. Want an example? search “starbucks increased sales at Polly’s coffee belmont shore”