To ask for your most missed shops?

[anitagreen]

This year my heart was broken by Toys "R" Us closing, just wondered what other shops that have closed do you miss?
This year we've had maplins, BHS I believe was this year, Mothercare will all be gone by next year summer too.
As a teen I used to love Bay Trading, and a shop called Tammy Girl.

Woolworths, definitely. I jump for joy whenever I see it in Germany. And C&A (they've got that in Germany too!)

I miss C&A. Can't understand why they closed down here but are still alive and well on the continent. Last time I was in Paris, I spent ages in there. Bring it back please.

Also, Woolworths, of course, and BHS,

From teenage years C&A, Sweater Shop, Dash and we had an independent shop called McQueens that was a cornucopia of snow wash denim, lace and Fido Dido and Fat Willys Surf Shack stuff, it was amazing.

Now I was so sad to see East go, I loved a lot of their stuff as it was all natural fibres and so cool to wear in the summer.

I'd forgotten all about the Pier. That place used to be my go-to for 90% of Christmas and birthday presents.

I miss Neal Street East in Covent Garden, and Cargo on Tottenham Court Road.

I kept waiting for the Government to step in and save Woolies right at the last minute. I still can't believe they let it leave our High Street!

Local shops, especially chandlers!

We moved to a small market town that still has a butcher, baker and chandlers, a greengrocers too! No chain shops, except the Coop! It's weird, but lovely, though the locals all seem to want to get an Aldi/Lidls and to replace the 6 very different coffee shops with Starbucks!

Even more weird when you know that 4 of those coffee shops sell very good, locally sourced coffees and are cheaper than Starbucks!

Ravel shoes
Kew clothing

Oh and The Pier. My brown leather sofa from there has been on its last legs for many many years but I will hold on to it for ever.

Ooh I didn't mean Cargo, it was Pier I am thinking of!

Definitely Woolworths, used to love those white chocolate cookie creme sweets in the pick n mix.

Our local independent bookshop. They were closed for several months due to insurance wrangles when the town flooded a few years ago. When they finally reopened, they never recovered anything like their former level of business, despite my best efforts. People had got

Of course, the demise of the net book agreement didn't help. The big chains were able to sell books for less than they could buy them for.

We now have a Waterstones, and it's shite. The staff seem more concerned with selling coffee and cake than books, and you struggle to get to the shelves for the coffee drinkers all over the place, in a town where almost every other retail unit is a poxy coffee shop.

(Not a gripe against Waterstones generally, btw, the branches in neighbouring towns are fine).

Past times.

I used to love their jewellery, nightwear and general bits and bobs.

What every woman/everyone wants. Jeez, my pals and I spent hours in there on a Saturday. It was a warehouse full of the worst made, badly designed shite imaginable. But it was cheap.

Woolworths, Our Price and Blockbusters.

You could get anything from a hairdryer to a tin of paint and a birthday card in Woolies. The Edgware Road one was my favourite as they had a café and their lemon meringue pie was delicious.

Could lose a whole hour in Our Price looking through the records (Records! How old am I!) and our local Blockbusters was great for a mooch when DSs were young as they loved choosing a film or game to hire.

@easyandy101 - Completely agree re Alders Croydon. Was a nice shop. Loved their perfume and make up department and the haberdashery. It’s full of absolute rubbish now. I know it’s better than it being empty but what a shame it’s now just a plastic tat jumble sale.
I’m assuming Westfield have bought it along with Centrale and Whitgift?

Woolworths was the first one i thought of, but reading the thread there are so many that i'd forgotten about, don't really miss but remember fondly.

Anasnake. Lunn Poly is still alive but now known as Tui Holiday Shops!

LP was a subsidiary of the Thomson group who were sold as a whole to Tui - huge German Tour Operator. They initially changed the name to Thomson Holiday Shops - rather than LP - but then, in the last couple of years, changed to Tui H S in order for the British public to become more familiar with the "Brand." 😒

Boring history detail from ex senior manager of almost 20 years

Principles - the Debenhams range is nowhere near as good
Racing Green
Kew
Richards
Ravels
Lilley & Skinner - that massive branch in Oxford Street
Dickens & Jones
BHS - for swimwear and lighting
Chelsea Girl
Underwoods the Chemist

Woolworths.

Worst shop Waitrose. Expensive. Dreadful price offer labelling. Demoralised staff. Pretentious customers.

It's such a shame I didn't realise just how many shops have gone but I can think of more JJB, Dixons I think currys are going too? The manager at our local mothercare said by the end of summer next year they'll all be gone. Our one is two floors and huge it's closing January after the sale . Also Thorntons I think will go I remember them beautiful fondant pig things they've gone, and all our local shops went by them too

I wasn't at all surprised when Maplin closed. Why would I pay £15 for an HDMI cable when I can get one on Amazon for £4 and they do exactly the same thing - transmit 1s and 0s over copper wire?

Bath & Body works!

C and A

John Menzies

Woolworths

Etam

My wardrobe was almost entirely Etam at one stage

Gosh yes The Pier! I still have stuff from there

East, Woolworths, BHS, C & A.