Modern spectacle maker Cubitts has opened its latest store in the heart of Broadway Market’s community in London’s Hackney. Housed in Grade II listed former beloved eel, pie and mash shop, F. Cooke and Sons, the store pays homage to the rich local history of the mid century terraced building and the wider East London community.
Partnering with local architecture and design practice, EBBA to capture the intricate nuances of its former home, the store retains the original features fitted in the 1930s including glazed white and cream tiles with mirror panels, terrazzo floors and walls, stained glass windows and its tiled counter with the marble countertop and shelves that were originally used to display fresh eels on ice. A selection of objects from the F. Cooke archives are also displayed in the store.
Benni Allan, Founding Director EBBA Architects said: “We have worked carefully to develop a design that celebrates the historic qualities of Cubitts’ new site on Broadway Market. The features of the Grade II Listed interior – which was once used as a pie shop – helped to establish the overall concept and a material palette of tiles and rich timber joinery.
Informing the layout of a new series of displays, we sought to integrate the original marble tables in a subtle yet innovative way that feels purposeful. New joinery and bespoke shelving add a contemporary feel, with a nod to early modern detailing. Altogether, we have tried to achieve a fresh yet elegant feel that aligns with the brand’s ambitions as well as being respectful of the history of the site and its unique character.”
To mark the opening of the store, Cubitts is launching a new collection dedicated to Broadway Market, taking inspiration from surrounding buildings, natural spaces and F. Cooke itself. The frames include:
Cooke: A frame inspired by a pre civil war design from the 1860s in the US and the Pie and Mash shop itself. The hexagonal lens shape gives a nod to the past, while the modern addition of a crank bridge and beta titanium temples bring this frame firmly into the present.
Orwell: A frame inspired by the iconic eyewear of George Orwell who lived nearby and frequented The Dove Pub on Broadway Market. This acetate frame features a deep square shape with rounded curves, and thin lugs and temples. With a nod to the past, this frame captures the essence of early 20th century style while maintaining a modern edge.
Starburst: This is an experimental frame inspired by the “starburst” stained glass window of the original building. Completed with paddle temples, inspired by the shapes on the glass, directly created by the light going through the front cut out. A display frame that can be made into a Bespoke+ design.
The two limited edition frames will be priced at £350.00 and will be exclusively available in the Broadway Market store.
With community at the heart of the store’s ethos, Cubitts Broadway Market will display a collection of ‘East London faces’, portraits of local spectacle wearers by artist and local Broadway Market resident, Wilfrid Wood.
Cubitts has also partnered with a number of local independent businesses, shining a light on talent in the area. In collaboration with Artwords Bookshop, Cubitts’ Broadway Market store will provide a space to loan books from a curated collection of literature. Cubitts has also worked with local east london designer and illustrator, Alec Doherty to create a charity cleaning cloth, with proceeds donated to East London charity, The Outrunners.
The store will also become home to Cubitts REDUX, embracing waste materials, frame donation, and repairs. It will offer a live repairs station with a workshop team and will be used as a hub for Cubitts anew, a frame donation service, and home for frame one year rehab – the repairs service for Cubitts wearers.
Tom Broughton, founder of Cubitts commented: “I’m tremendously proud to announce the opening of Cubitts Broadway Market, in one of Hackney’s most iconic buildings. 9 Broadway Market was the home of F Cooke for more than more than 120 years – and we’ve with locally based agency EBBA to ensure it’s sensitively returned to its former glory.
“With an exceptionally complete 1930s interior, we retained the glorious original signage, renewed the marble tables and counters (which once displayed fresh eels), and revived the terrazzo flooring (with tramline borders), Art Deco sunburst stained-glass windows, and white-tiled walls with inset mirror panels.
“It’s our hope that Cubitts Broadway Market isn’t just a shop, but becomes an integral part of the community for as long as we’re custodians of this exemplary building.”
Cubitts Broadway Market is located on 9 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH.
