Dearly departed shops :-(
Discussion
I lived in Hounslow West London as a kid and the High Street was excellent then.
As a young teenager I had a huge income from three part time jobs the most lucrative being as a petrol pump attendant and I spent a fair chunk of my earnings in the shoe shops of the town.
There used to be so many most of which (if not all) have gone.
Curtess which was mid priced stuff.
Dolcis was a bit more upmarket.
Freeman, Hardy and Willis which had shoes out on racks to try on.
Shelleys, that was very high fashion.
And a few independents too.
Nowadays there don't appear to be as many shoe shops as I suppose stores like Debenhams and M and S sell them.
I also remember a lot of independent video shops which dud a good trade " Under the counter" and that meant either really dodgy recordings of films not yet released ( a film took a year or do to go to video) or a bit of soft core prawn.
Blockbuster then came in and the independents went and I guess sky plus etc killed Blockbuster.
As a young teenager I had a huge income from three part time jobs the most lucrative being as a petrol pump attendant and I spent a fair chunk of my earnings in the shoe shops of the town.
There used to be so many most of which (if not all) have gone.
Curtess which was mid priced stuff.
Dolcis was a bit more upmarket.
Freeman, Hardy and Willis which had shoes out on racks to try on.
Shelleys, that was very high fashion.
And a few independents too.
Nowadays there don't appear to be as many shoe shops as I suppose stores like Debenhams and M and S sell them.
I also remember a lot of independent video shops which dud a good trade " Under the counter" and that meant either really dodgy recordings of films not yet released ( a film took a year or do to go to video) or a bit of soft core prawn.
Blockbuster then came in and the independents went and I guess sky plus etc killed Blockbuster.
SidJames said:
International Stores
Gateway
Comet
Bejam
Netto
Netto were one of the other supermarket chains that benefited from the strip down of the Kwik Save brand.
Jon321 said:
CorbynForTheBin said:
Beatties 
Good call. I bought my Lunch Box r/c car from the Harrogate branch on James Street many many years ago. Huge toyshop and the quality (Tamiya etc) kits downstairs in a semi basement.
I Saved\converted £20 a month into vouchers and after 6 months!! i bought the Tamiya 1:32nd scale F-15E Strike Eagle. I got to display it in the shop window when i was 14. Was proud as punch.
Only one decent model shop near me now, long may it continue.
aka_kerrly said:
SidJames said:
International Stores
Gateway
Comet
Bejam
Netto
Netto were one of the other supermarket chains that benefited from the strip down of the Kwik Save brand.
https://www.netto.co.uk/
wolfracesonic said:
Alex said:
Toyshops from my childhood:
Bagnalls in Stafford.
Redgates in Sheffield. Loved this place.
Bloody hell, Redgates: It was like the Mothership! I could be wrong but I think it was the biggest toyshop in the country, surpassing even Hamleys in London.Bagnalls in Stafford.
Redgates in Sheffield. Loved this place.
Without a doubt the shop that made the most impact on a 5 year old who'd just been re-located from Southampton to Sheffield back in the 60's!
Pickled said:
Flip Martian said:
C & A also have a store in Paris I believe - I remember the irony of chic Paris having a C & A...
.
They also have M&S in Paris - was quite surprised to see people sat in the cafe area eating pre-packed sarnies..
Godd thread !
Woolworths from loads of childhood memories, worked for them in the IT dept for a while, not long before they went out of business, remember going with my birthday money to the Stockport one and buying Commodore 64 games, Monty Mole and Lazy Jones on one memorable visit.
Saw a mention of "Toy and Hobby", also in Stockport, that was a wonderful shop, I remember it being a bit dingy, didnt have any windows, remember the massive Star Wars figure and ship display, the Technic lego, remember going armed with a right wadge of cash and getting a Go Kart (854) and a massive Motorbike and Sidecar (857). Was also good for Atari games, the boxes for them were so compelling, all in different colours but with uniform fonts and really nice box art, way better than the actual game !
Rumbelows, got my 64 from the one in Bramhall as it was a tenner cheaper.
"Do it All"
Sainsburys Homebase
Shopping Giant in Wythenshawe
Comet, but from the seventies and eighties when it was good, the one near us was hopeless before it went bump.
Woolworths from loads of childhood memories, worked for them in the IT dept for a while, not long before they went out of business, remember going with my birthday money to the Stockport one and buying Commodore 64 games, Monty Mole and Lazy Jones on one memorable visit.
Saw a mention of "Toy and Hobby", also in Stockport, that was a wonderful shop, I remember it being a bit dingy, didnt have any windows, remember the massive Star Wars figure and ship display, the Technic lego, remember going armed with a right wadge of cash and getting a Go Kart (854) and a massive Motorbike and Sidecar (857). Was also good for Atari games, the boxes for them were so compelling, all in different colours but with uniform fonts and really nice box art, way better than the actual game !
Rumbelows, got my 64 from the one in Bramhall as it was a tenner cheaper.
"Do it All"
Sainsburys Homebase
Shopping Giant in Wythenshawe
Comet, but from the seventies and eighties when it was good, the one near us was hopeless before it went bump.
thismonkeyhere said:
A recent one:
Borders. Great shops for an extended browse, and for finding books not stocked elsewhere.
A childhood one:
Toy & Hobby. Great high street toy shops - before out of town Toys R Us etc killed them off.
Doesn't quite count:
Boots in the late 80s/early 90s when it used to sell so much more (in the bigger shops) - including music. I still have some Boots CDs.
Agree with Borders - trouble was they were usually full price and not enough bought there after browsing, I guess!Borders. Great shops for an extended browse, and for finding books not stocked elsewhere.
A childhood one:
Toy & Hobby. Great high street toy shops - before out of town Toys R Us etc killed them off.
Doesn't quite count:
Boots in the late 80s/early 90s when it used to sell so much more (in the bigger shops) - including music. I still have some Boots CDs.
Agree with Boots too: the one in Rugby was as big as Woolworths next door - 2 large floors. Upstairs they had a big record section. I moved to London and went back and was surprised to see they'd closed the whole of the upstairs to the public and were just trading on 1 floor with far less (and of course, no records or anything interesting).
soad said:
CountZero23 said:
MVC. Many a college lunchtime spent at the listening stations.
Stickers had two prices, right? Discount for the membership/card holders iirc.thismonkeyhere said:
A recent one:
Borders. Great shops for an extended browse, and for finding books not stocked elsewhere.
+1Borders. Great shops for an extended browse, and for finding books not stocked elsewhere.
Jek Porkins said:
I remember a market stall in Cheltenham which used to sell quite cool things. The guy then got a proper shop in town: "Cult Clothing", the go to place for t-shirts and other stuff.
I was sad when it closed, but he's doing alright now. He renamed himself... SuperDry!
Was one in Oxford and Brighton too. Didn't realise super dry was just a rebranding. I was sad when it closed, but he's doing alright now. He renamed himself... SuperDry!
jet_noise said:
Chuffs (London, somewhere, it was 45years ago!) - 2nd hand model railway stuff.
Homeworld (Bristol) - as suggested by other posters.
Biggles (Bristol) - Music instruments/PA gear.
Music Man (Chippenham) - records. Every Friday lunchtime listening to the latest grooves,
regards,
Jet
Boney Maroney and Paradise Garage ring any bells?Homeworld (Bristol) - as suggested by other posters.
Biggles (Bristol) - Music instruments/PA gear.
Music Man (Chippenham) - records. Every Friday lunchtime listening to the latest grooves,
regards,
Jet
soad said:
aka_kerrly said:
SidJames said:
International Stores
Gateway
Comet
Bejam
Netto
Netto were one of the other supermarket chains that benefited from the strip down of the Kwik Save brand.
https://www.netto.co.uk/
Kwik-save is also back although in a different guise. They're now a franchise operation brought to you by NISA
aka_kerrly said:
SidJames said:
International Stores
Gateway
Comet
Bejam
Netto
Netto were one of the other supermarket chains that benefited from the strip down of the Kwik Save brand.
you forgot fine fare and somerfield.
Here's a few brands I had the "Pleasure" of owning which are either now no longer with us or off my radar.
I know I could google but it's fun not to:
Sanyo. My brother had a superb tower system. Twin cassette decks, big amp, graphic equaliser all in a glass fronted cabinet.
Amstrad. My first foray into ICE combined it with an Audioline graphic and Pioneer Ts2's on the rear shelf. A great sound. I think pioneer survive?
Ratners. We all know the famous story but they did sell some good stuff.
Loved going to London markets as well. East Street in Camberwell, Shepherds Bush and Petticoat Lane on a Sunday. I'd imagine they are still there but I'd be surprised if they drew the numbers they used to,.
I know I could google but it's fun not to:
Sanyo. My brother had a superb tower system. Twin cassette decks, big amp, graphic equaliser all in a glass fronted cabinet.
Amstrad. My first foray into ICE combined it with an Audioline graphic and Pioneer Ts2's on the rear shelf. A great sound. I think pioneer survive?
Ratners. We all know the famous story but they did sell some good stuff.
Loved going to London markets as well. East Street in Camberwell, Shepherds Bush and Petticoat Lane on a Sunday. I'd imagine they are still there but I'd be surprised if they drew the numbers they used to,.
Borders is a great shout. Forgot that one. There was one not too far from me and I used to spend hours flicking through the magazines trying to keep my spend down to £20. Having access to all the American Titles in there was a real USP for them and I don't think that facility has been recreated anywhere?
Thankyou4calling said:
Here's a few brands I had the "Pleasure" of owning which are either now no longer with us or off my radar.
I know I could google but it's fun not to:
Sanyo. My brother had a superb tower system. Twin cassette decks, big amp, graphic equaliser all in a glass fronted cabinet.
Amstrad. My first foray into ICE combined it with an Audioline graphic and Pioneer Ts2's on the rear shelf. A great sound. I think pioneer survive?
Ratners. We all know the famous story but they did sell some good stuff.
Loved going to London markets as well. East Street in Camberwell, Shepherds Bush and Petticoat Lane on a Sunday. I'd imagine they are still there but I'd be surprised if they drew the numbers they used to,.
+ Saisho. Dixons' own, I believe. Had a few 'personal stereos' from Saisho back in the day, as well as a 'music centre' thing - turntable, twin cassette, radio, seperate speakers etc.I know I could google but it's fun not to:
Sanyo. My brother had a superb tower system. Twin cassette decks, big amp, graphic equaliser all in a glass fronted cabinet.
Amstrad. My first foray into ICE combined it with an Audioline graphic and Pioneer Ts2's on the rear shelf. A great sound. I think pioneer survive?
Ratners. We all know the famous story but they did sell some good stuff.
Loved going to London markets as well. East Street in Camberwell, Shepherds Bush and Petticoat Lane on a Sunday. I'd imagine they are still there but I'd be surprised if they drew the numbers they used to,.
John Menzies, great when ZX Spectrum, Acorn Electron et al were all the new thing, used to spend many a saturday morning playing Manic Miner, or just typing
10 Print 'insert rude word', (if you added the comma - irrc it would fill the whole screen going across horizontally then vertically.)
20 goto 10
Then you would learn a bit more Basic and get it to do random colours, and annoying noises - simple pleasures.
10 Print 'insert rude word', (if you added the comma - irrc it would fill the whole screen going across horizontally then vertically.)
20 goto 10
Then you would learn a bit more Basic and get it to do random colours, and annoying noises - simple pleasures.
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