Larry Goldstein
For many, Larry Goldstein is one of, if not the first face you see when you visit the Sunday market. Trading at the top end of Petticoat Lane, near Bishopsgate, he’s been charming the punters for more than 30 years, selling his wares to thousands of visitors from all over the globe. His stall is every child’s (and many adult’s!) dream – giant souvenir bears and soft toys piled high, with every shopper stopping to take it all in. Larry was born in Hackney and knows London like the back of his hand. So much so that he’s even a licensed London cabbie!
Read on to find out how Larry turned his boyhood dream of being a street market trader into a reality…
Larry, tell us a little bit more about yourself…
I’m Larry Goldstein and I trade from the first pitch on the left, heading into Petticoat Lane from Bishopsgate. I’ve been selling soft toys, souvenir bears, and high-class toys on the market for years now. I grew up in Hackney and have worked in street markets since 1978.
As well as Petticoat Lane, I also trade on Walthamstow market, the longest outdoor street market in Europe – spanning a kilometre of the High Street! I’ve also passed ‘The Knowledge’, meaning I’m fully accredited to drive a black London Taxi. It’s something I’m very proud of.
How did you become a market trader on Petticoat Lane?
As a child, my dad would take me to Club Row in London, an animal street market where people used to sell cats and dogs on leads. You used to be able to have a picture taken with a live monkey or a parrot on your shoulder! Then from here, we’d take a short walk to Petticoat Lane every Sunday. There were hundreds of people walking up and down, with so many traders selling different lines. I always thought what an amazing job this would be and constantly dreamed of one day owning my own stall.
My dream finally came true when I was granted a stall in Petticoat Lane on the Tower Hamlets end, opposite the entrance to the old undercover leather market (now the Travelodge). A few years after, I applied for a license to trade on the City of London end of Petticoat Lane. I remember having to interview in-front of a committee, but unfortunately, I failed to secure a vacant pitch. Then, 2 years later, another pitch became available and this time the committee accepted my application! Since then, I’ve continued to trade every Sunday on Petticoat Lane. For over 30 years, I have sold my wares to tens of thousands of people, many returning years later to spend their money with me again and again.
Do you have a favourite memory of trading on Petticoat Lane?
When I first started trading in Petticoat Lane no shops were allowed to open on a Sunday, so the market was one of the few places you could spend your money. I always remember the market heaving with punters. Coaches used to drop day trippers off one after the other, causing huge traffic jams up and down the streets! People would travel from all over the world to visit Petticoat Lane.
I actually traded on the Sunday after the IRA bomb in Bishopsgate, in 1993. I remember arriving at my stall at about 6am ready to set up. There was broken glass everywhere – a very eerie feeling. That day was so busy with people coming to Bishopsgate to see what had happened. I nearly sold everything I brought with me, an achievement which has never and will never be matched!
And where’s your favourite place for a spot of lunch on a Sunday market day?
I enjoy the old cafes, where you could get a bacon roll and a nice cup of tea. Years ago, a lot of the traders used to have breakfast at a little café on Widegate Street, run by a lovely Italian lady. We’d always go down to support her. Nowadays, I tend to bring my own sandwiches and flask!
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