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Anyone miss shopping in Woolworths?

(90 Posts)
Cardashian123 Fri 23-May-25 08:43:12

You could get anything in there it was such a versatile shop and in my local high street. I even worked there in Haberdashery as a Saturday girl in the 60s. Memories…..

FranP Fri 23-May-25 22:11:18

Plugs, screws, pick and mix sweets, baby clothes, toys, socks, stamps...........
All a reasonable prices, which is probably while the fail

gagsy Fri 23-May-25 21:51:13

When I was engaged I used to go in after work, on my way home and buy things for the kitchen etc. my colour was yellow and my plastic colander has only just split and been thrown away, after 62 years! I think it cost 6d or 1/-!

Ladyfungi59a Fri 23-May-25 20:25:44

As a youngster back in the late 50's I would love to go into Woolies in London, not necessarily to buy something, but would have my eyes peeled on the floor. I would go up one aisle and down the next - it was surprising how much money could be found dropped on the floor! It would be very disappointing if I found nothing (and sometimes would even go around again)!! I also loved going in there at Christmas time to get their empty boxes so I could put the Christmas presents I bought for my family which didn't cost much but the boxes made them look more expensive.

Littlebea02 Fri 23-May-25 20:24:07

We didn’t call it Woolies in Tuscaloosa Alabama it was Woolworths and it was small but it had a soda fountain it was out near the university of Alabama campus in the 60s when you can actually walk around the campus it wasn’t so crowded- I only remember the soda fountain because you could get a root beer float! I worked in Adams five and dime in Northport which is the little town right next to Tuscaloosa and I was paid $.25 an hour-I think that was about 15 P an hour-I loved it I worked over Christmas in the 60s and I remember wrapping one pencil at a time as Christmas gifts for the kids that came in. Everything was much smaller than that’s what I remember!

BERYLC Fri 23-May-25 19:11:15

Yes I miss Woolworths too and more recently I miss Wilco. Lots of other well known shops have gone in the last few years. I still miss C&A, B.H.S a d debe hams. I guess online shopping is taking over the high street.

Yorkshirepudding4ever Fri 23-May-25 18:59:18

I worked in Woolies as a Saturday girl in 1966, to save up for a school ski trip. I worked on the toilet roll counter, as my friends pointed out, that's what they called starting at the bottom!smile

TwiceAsNice Fri 23-May-25 18:32:33

I loved Woolworths and always bought our Christmas chocolates there they had such a selection and much cheaper than elsewhere. DD1 had a job there for several years before she went to university and loved working on the records counter. I remember she had to do some night duty and that really worried me but she said they were great to work for and treated their staff well.

Pondlife Fri 23-May-25 18:32:01

I do.
Especially at Christmas and Easter

Daddima Fri 23-May-25 18:04:54

I was just going to ask about pay! I worked in a wee drapery and got 12/6 for a Saturday, and remember the outrage when the other ‘Saturday girl’ and I discovered how much Woolie’s were paying!
And, Humbley what was the name of Woolie’s own record label where they sold cover versions of the hits of the day?

Usedtobeblonde Fri 23-May-25 17:53:14

Good news for some.
Comet is coming back.

Greciangirl Fri 23-May-25 17:33:05

Yes, miss it too.

Also worked as a saturday girl in the 60’s at the Clapham Junction branch.

All the good stores gone. Shame!

Duvetdiva Fri 23-May-25 17:25:28

In Kehl Germany last week! xx

Thisismyname1953 Fri 23-May-25 16:37:50

I may be misremembering, but on holiday in Limassol we went into a large Woolworths store. It had a very grand staircase up to the next floor and while we were there a Russian lady in a ballgown came walking elegantly down the staircase. It just seemed so bizarre mid-week in Woolies!
Please tell me there really was a Woolworths in Cyprus .

Gingster Fri 23-May-25 16:25:14

I worked in Woolies as a 15 yr old saturday girl and I loved it .
I earned 15 shillings a day.
My friend who worked at Sainsbury got £1,

I do miss Woolworths - it was always a handy shop that sold anything you wanted.

Acegik Fri 23-May-25 16:16:10

I remember going when I was 3 yrs old with my mum and older brother. I badly wanted a pretty tray showing the marriage of Princess Elizabeth to Philip, but we were very poor, so could only look.

Sueki44 Fri 23-May-25 16:11:01

Do you remember when Woolworths sold loose biscuits? You could ask for a specific type or just mixed. You could also get a pound of broken biscuits!

zipperdedoda Fri 23-May-25 15:26:54

Yes Maggiemaybe, my mum worked as a cook in Woolworths in the staff canteen. She loved it. Proper cooked meals for everyone and she always did something special for the one vegetarian! That was probably in the sixties. They didn't have a restaurant for customers but did have a milk shake and ice cream bar. I presume they also did tea but I wasn't interested in that at the time! Can also remember the square tins of broken biscuits very cheap!

Azalea99 Fri 23-May-25 15:22:02

Oh yes, I miss it too. I still have plants I bought there to remind me, but oddly one of my fondest memories is of the wooden floors they had

Bukkie Fri 23-May-25 15:10:46

I am from Hull, there are still several in Hull and surrounding areas like Beverley, Barton. It's the first place I would go to for underslips, girdles for Grandma, material and sewing equipment for my Scottish friend who loves crafting, enamel dishes to name a few things.

AuntieE Fri 23-May-25 15:01:50

I love Woollworth's too.

Sixpence pocket money went a long way there in the 1950s.

I bought dolls' house furniture at the toy counter, and some of the first plastic shoes made for 6" dolls.

There is a branch of Woollie's in Flensburg 7 km away from my home, and they still have good cheap things.

Mirren Fri 23-May-25 14:57:53

I loved Woolies.
There was quite a big one in the town where I went to school.
I bought my first records there and my friends and I loved a good mooch after school before getting the bus home.
One day we went for a look round and I took a wire shopping basket as I hoped to buy some make up .
Not finding what I wanted my friend and I headed across the road to our bus stop.
It was only when I reached the other side of the road that I realised I still had the shopping basket over my arm !!!
Thankfully it was empty but I ran to put it back,apologising profusely to the laughing shop assistants who had watched everything with amusement.
It took me ages to stop worrying I was about to be arrested for " stealing " an empty basket !

Lizzies Fri 23-May-25 14:46:14

I was just talking to a friend about Woolies the other day and saying how much we missed it.

Mollyanna Fri 23-May-25 14:43:48

I think Gransnet needs to sort out their security. Dismayed to see so many drug posts.

Les1950 Fri 23-May-25 14:42:41

I worked on the xmas counter in woolies in my school holiday. I had to add everything up in my head. I was paid £1 for the day. I loved looking round the store b4 it was open, and the lunches were good and cheap.

Nannan2 Fri 23-May-25 14:41:53

I miss woolworths such a lot.I had been going there since i was very small(prob was taken as a baby in the pram too) it was our 'go to' store for our family.