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Genealogy/memories

Stores that are no longer in existence.

(176 Posts)
NanKate Tue 22-Nov-16 23:18:30

Just been listening to BBC Radio Southern Counties and they are talking about shops that are no longer in existence. They mentioned Freeman Hardy and Willis and I remember buying a pair of lovely stilettos made of a blue mesh type material. I miss not being able to wear heels. hmm

Any shops you miss ?

KathyDM Wed 23-Nov-16 21:19:27

Anyone remember Snob boutiques from the 70s ? What happened to them ?

Lyndylou Wed 23-Nov-16 21:31:58

Habitat is still around Anya, but much reduced stores. Think you can order their things through Homebase.
I worked for them in the 1970s at the flagship store at Wallingford. Lovely building, I think it is a housing estate now.

C&A, I do miss, I bought some great children's clothes last year at their store in Luxembourg.

The one I really miss is The Pier. I was saving up for one of their wardrobes when they disappeared, something to do with Iceland going bust, I think. The country not the frozen food store.

There was a mention of Dewhurst the butchers. A dirty word in this house. My step son was working for them when they went bust. They must have known they were going under but they kept the staff working until the day before the monthly pay was due to go in the bank. He never got anything for that month's work.

callgirl1 Wed 23-Nov-16 21:53:12

Mancgirl, thank you for reminding me about Pauldens. It seemed quite a posh store to me in my teens, but I did buy an umbrella there, dead chuffed with it, I was!

nannyonsea Wed 23-Nov-16 22:08:55

Timothy Whites in Southgate High Street (my first Saturday job) which then became Bejam - both long gone like me!!!

1974cookie Wed 23-Nov-16 22:12:06

I remember our local WH Smith having a record section but best of all, a booth that you could stand in to listen to records that you wanted to check out before you bought any. For us teenagers who had very little money, it was a chance to hear our favourite music without putting money in a Jukebox ?.

Witzend Wed 23-Nov-16 22:16:26

Good old Woolies.

NanKate Wed 23-Nov-16 22:25:36

Yes Blinko I too went to Lewis's in B'ham to Santa's grotto. You went through some doors and got on Santa's sleigh then a few minutes later they opened doors on the other side of the sleigh and you had arrived in Lapland. It was magical smile

Do you remember Barrows, and Neatawear in the 1960s in B'ham also ?

GertrudeGrace Wed 23-Nov-16 23:33:26

Timothy Whites - I've still got a coffee percolator I bought from there in 1977c

oldgoat Thu 24-Nov-16 00:01:18

When I first came to York in the 1960's there was a large Co-op department store which sold just about everything. On one end of the building was a flashing neon sign "Shop at the Co-op for everything" flash,flash. I used to be mesmerised by the sign as I stood waiting for my bus.It's all gone now, replaced by a row of restaurants.
Our children (and I!) used to love visiting Santa's grotto. You travelled there on his sleigh which seemed to fly through the sky, pulled by two prancing reindeer. Magical!

suzied Thu 24-Nov-16 07:09:41

I remember Chelsea Girl I bought a fab purple cord mini skirt from there when I was about 15. My mum said it looked like a belt!
Bibas roof garden in Kensington is now a restaurant I had lunch there recently and walked around the gardens. The flamingos are still there!

Humbertbear Thu 24-Nov-16 08:58:36

C n A is alive and well in Paris. Opposite Au Printemps and Galleries Lafayette.

Cherrytree59 Thu 24-Nov-16 09:17:22

Woolworth is still going in Perth Australia.

I bought Ladybird clothes including school uniform items from Woollies when my own DC were young.

I also bought Children's clothes from Adams.
My DD called it the 'Apple shop' as their logo was an apple

etheltbags1 Thu 24-Nov-16 09:56:25

I miss Donken bakery, though this might have been a northern chain, also the Tea Company.
In Newcastle there are M and S outlets.
I also miss a supermarket called Gateway, bought by morrisons.
Also miss freeman Hard and Willis for shoes, Peters bakery, Carricks bakery, our local Co-op department store where we could get reliable electrics at a reasonable price and many others.

Auntieflo Thu 24-Nov-16 10:09:29

Why do I read the heading for this as Stories no longer in existence?

Jalima Thu 24-Nov-16 10:13:09

Woolworths in Australia is a food supermarket - a big chain, like Coles.

Big W (rather shortlived here?) is still going strong in Australia too, although I'm not sure if they sell Ladybird clothes.

I think you can still get Ladybird clothes online here

Jalima Thu 24-Nov-16 10:16:23

There was a very large Co-op department store in Plymouth, with a food hall too.
Very useful, right by the bus stops!

Grangegran1 Thu 24-Nov-16 11:50:29

anne60, yes nylon sheets! Sparks flew from them as you got into bed without anything else happening! I miss all those shops mentioned and I do think M and S have lost their way. OK if you want a pair of black trousers as there are racks of them but precious little else. A shame because I remember when Per Una was launched and there was such a choice. Perhaps they will be better sticking to food.

Daisyanswerdo Thu 24-Nov-16 12:28:59

Derry and Toms had a roof garden.

KatyK Thu 24-Nov-16 13:15:09

Lewis's in Birmingham had a roof garden too smile

Beammeupscottie Thu 24-Nov-16 13:25:16

KatyK.

According to my mother, I shoplifted a crocodile handbag from Lewis's Birmingham. I was on her shoulder and lifted it as I passed the counter. About aged two I believe. I also had an encounter with a monkey in a cage at Lewis's. He swiped my red beret through the bars. They got if back for me and my mother jammed it onto my head.

mrshat Thu 24-Nov-16 15:34:55

Richard Shops!

DanniRae Thu 24-Nov-16 17:36:53

Can any one remember Kennards in Croydon? I am sure I recall walking through the arcade and at the rear of the shop they did donkey/pony rides. confused

grandma60 Thu 24-Nov-16 18:01:50

*KathyDM. Yes I remember Snob. I loved that shop. There was a branch in Southampton. I remember buying a brightly coloured smock with bell sleeves, back in the 60s of course!. I might be wrong but I think they may have been owned by the same company as Etam.

Ginny42 Thu 24-Nov-16 19:27:10

There used to be a store called Affleck and Brown's in Manchester which was quite smart when I was a child. When my DD was a student there it was called Affleck's and had become an emporium with different stalls selling as I recall mostly second hand/vintage clothes.

There was a store in Liverpool called Owen Owen's, which closed several years ago, but someone told me today that the Santa's grotto from there is to be displayed at the Liverpool Museum as part of the city's heritage.

NanKate Thu 24-Nov-16 19:39:03

KatyK wasn't there a small zoo on the roof of Lewis in B'ham ?

Do you remember sitting on tin animals to have your hair cut ?