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.

The amount of silly things - curtain hooks, fairy light bulbs, pick and mix at Christmas, school plimsolls - I miss it.

Borders, specifically the one in Angel where it was perfectly acceptable to take a huge stack of books into the in-store Starbucks and not buy any at the end (although I frequently did before anyone accuses me of causing their demise).

@AimlesslyPurposeful

It's been chopped and changed so often now that I've kind of lost track

Last proposal I was following was to see st Georges walk area merged into whitgift centre area with an uncertain future for the allders facade

The uncertainty it's caused amongst existing businesses is shocking, people not wanting to invest in stores that have supposedly been imminently closing for the last 6 years.

Allders Croydon could possibly have survived if it knew there was going to be a site for it but instead they started courting other dept store businesses who had already said they didn't want to move there

Now it's set to be a John Lewis, who were one of the most vocal opponents to going there as their proposed site was too large so no idea how they got them on board

Wallis - there is a concession in Cebenhams but it’s nothing like as good.
Richards - got so much of my work clothes there.
Clas Ohlson. I loved that shop was heartbroken when it closed.

Borders Books. I loved it. Especially the one in Kingston on Thames with the carved wood staircase and the massive art department downstairs.

I used to miss Woolworths but Wilkos almost makes up for it.

I mostly miss the independents of my childhood - Bacher's Fabrics in Manchester, where Leo knew exactly what he had in stock that'd make my Dad a work suit; the wool shop near us, which had a very distinct scent I've never come across anywhere else; Percivals for (old-fashioned) menswear and school pumps, and to gawp at the lovely old wood and glass fittings; Jack the greengrocer who gave us physalis to taste for the very first time. My childhood, basically

Jane Norman. I felt like their clothes were for me! Don't feel like that about any other clothes shops.

And Woolies

The Pier
Ravel
Woolworths
BHS
Adams
Jane Norman
Blockbuster
Kiddicare
Borders
Virgin Records, too.

I would've missed House of Fraser but it's become an absolute shambles recently. A poor mix of Sports Direct and Primark.

Also (not exactly a shop) but, I remember Bluewater used to have the most amazing crèche/play area where you could drop the kids off for a couple of hours and do some shopping - they gave you a buzzer and it went off if they needed you or at the end of your time.
Was a lifesaver at Christmas time or if you just wanted an hours peace to wander the shops.

Sadly, I think the Disney Store will be one of the next to go.

Kew - I still have some gorgeous silk dresses that I’m too fat for from there.

Neal Street East - going in there was always an adventure. I also really miss Liberty’s oriental basement. Everything’s so fucking curated now.

I would have said Woolworths but I went into Wilkinsons this morning and could feel no real difference.

@easyandy101 - Would make a nice John Lewis.
The Purley Way one is so soulless.
Not that a shop needs a soul for me to choose a curtain pole and replace a broken cup but mooching around a department store is definitely more pleasurable and preferable to the aircraft hangar that is the Purley Way site.

Tower Records

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Woolworths
C&A (when I go to Europe I always pop in to have a look at the range)
Adams (really good kids clothes)

Daisy &Tom and also Steinberg and Tolkien both down the Kings Road. And more prosaically, the remnant shop behind Turnpike Lane Tube station (Oooh! and the knicker shop opposite, now I have to search for underwear.)

Benetton shops were amazing. Their Benetton duffle bags were my go to school bag in secondary. I had almost every colour. I so wish they still did them. I also had Benetton luggage. It lasted years and years. It was a bargain in the Harrods sale in about 1991.

Liverpool is still an amazing place to shop, but back in the day we had a huge Woollies, C&A, Bay, several independent department stores, Ravel, WEOW, Kookai, Tammy and Etam and an enormous Virgin Megastore, which held the box office for the theatres and gig venues in town. I loved mooching around it. Also used to go in Topshop but nowadays I am not their clientele!

Woolworths
The Pier. I love my jewelled glass cheese board and matching cheese knives so much I've hardly used them as I'm afraid they could break and I'd be gutted.
Pilot
C&A

Gymboree and Pumpkin Patch. Both fab children's wear shops (DC too old for them now though)

Paddington and Friends in Bath. I used to love that shop!

BHS, I used to love their lighting department.

Woolworths for the vast range they sold. I was amazed when they closed as the two branches I used were always busy, with queues at the cash desks.

divadee there’s still a Benetton in Huddersfield!

yes Benetton stille xists and it's still really good.

I live very rurally, very little in the way of high street chains here.

The one shop I miss, and it was mail order only, before the Internet so it wasn't yesterday, is cosmetics to go.

Loved it.

Awear. In Ireland I am not sure if they were in the UK too. Fab quality clothes for a decent price.