Electric Avenue, Market street in Brixton, England
Electric Avenue is a market street in Brixton lined with shops and stalls selling products from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Asia. The corridor mixes larger retailers with independent vendors, creating a varied shopping environment.
The street took its name in 1888 when it became the first market street in the world to install electric lighting. This forward-thinking infrastructure made it a landmark of urban progress at that time.
The street holds meaning for communities across London who shop for goods from their homelands, making it a gathering point for people seeking products tied to their heritage. Vendors and customers have shaped its reputation as a welcoming marketplace where multiple cultures coexist in daily life.
The street sits directly next to Brixton Underground station, making it easy to reach by public transport. Shoppers will find numerous food stores and retailers along the route, with opening hours varying among individual vendors.
The street inspired Eddy Grant's 1983 hit song of the same name, which addressed social tensions of that period. During a renovation in 2016, Grant received one of the new illuminated signs as recognition of this cultural connection.
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