Which defunct shops/restaurants do you miss the most?

[Hairbrush123]

For me, Topshop. Was really gutted when it closed down. Restaurant: Herman ze German. Expensive but always enjoyed the food!

The was a restaurant ages ago called Old Orleans in York.

My mum used to take me as a treat when she visited me at Uni there. I dream about it still.

@catgirl1976

The was a restaurant ages ago called Old Orleans in York.

My mum used to take me as a treat when she visited me at Uni there. I dream about it still.

Oh yes, OLD ORLEANS. I loved the tropical drinks with the paper umbrellas!!!

Oh yes there was one by our local odeon! I loved old Orleans

Lewis's and Bizarre in Hanley.

O'Briens Sandwich shops. I loved their triple club sandwiches and nowhere does the same.

Woolies. B&M is a horror show.

Debenhams - great for Christmas presents and got plenty of kids clothes and toys in the sales. Also loved the homewares esp Matthew Williamson.

C&A for the ski wear

BHS for school uniforms.

Watt Brothers for pure randomness.

Athena posters

Internationalle for accessories

Adams for great kids clothes

Laura Ashley, just to look, never bought anything!

Kookai quirky stuff

Borders bookshops

Miss Selfridge for my youth.

John Menzies which was much better than WH Smith

@GrandTheftWalrus

M&S have started to close stores. There was one near me that had been there for 40 years and it closed on Friday for good. They have however moved to a watt brothers old store for food hall only.

The one in sauchiehall Street is closing down as well. And that still has a massive empty store that was British home stores.

M&S have been closing stores for years. Our nearest town centre one closed about 20 years ago. They've had an ongoing policy of closing loss making stores for decades rather than keep them going and the losses threatening the entire chain.

I can't believe it's 22 years since C&A closed their UK stores. That was nothing to do with internet shopping - they clearly foresaw the demise of the British High Street and chose to get out before they started losing money.

East

It had lost it's way for a while but the final collections before it failed were lovely.

[quote LadyEloise1]@LookItsMeAgain
I fully agree re Roches Stores being bought out by Debenhams.
It was so useful, the staff were lovely and so helpful.
I miss Clerys in Dublin too. It had really upped its game and O' Connell Street is not the better for its loss.
The treatment of its staff by that property company led by that businesswoman was despicable. The Debenham staff too who were made redundant were treated badly. [/quote]
Yes to all of this!

@beguilingeyes

Does anyone remember the Covent Garden General Store? I think Boots is there now, but it was one of those quirky places that sold everything.

I loved that!

I used to love Richard Shops

Anybody else remember that handbag shop, Salisbury's? They used to sell early dupes of LV.

Debenhams - lots of different brands under one roof. Our local shopping centre isnt' worth going to now. Sad.

@felulageller
O'Briens are still in business in Ireland.
It was set up by an Irish entrepreneur and was, I think, a franchise business.
He's now involved in a Thai take away business- Camille Thai.

Virginia Galleries in Glasgow's merchant city. Lots of tiny shops spread over lots of floors of an old townhouse. The very place for your incense sticks and velvet jackets!
Kookai - got loads from there
The Pier
Tammy Girl
Flip, the vintage clothes shop
Pizzaland - DH and I had our first date there.
An Edinburgh specific one - Jacques French restaurant in Tollcross. The most amazing steak frites.

Wallis

@catgirl1976

The was a restaurant ages ago called Old Orleans in York.

My mum used to take me as a treat when she visited me at Uni there. I dream about it still.

Same here!!

I’m just about old enough to remember when high streets were different and you used to have to go to certain areas for your preferred shops.

TopShop at Oxford Circus, the Reject Shop off the Kings Road. Kookai at High Street Ken. I hate the current ubiquity of the high streets and the shops on them.

I remember The General Store in Covent Garden. That should not have been allowed to close. It was Covent Garden!

I had many a fun evening at Caspers. A restaurant with phones on the table to phone other tables (maybe off Berkley Square?). Obviously this was before we had mobile phones.

[quote LadyEloise1]@letsbefriends123
I miss earlier White Company too. They did the most lovely empire line jersey dresses in cotton. Now it's viscose sh*t. [/quote]
Ooh me too, and I got really cross when they stopped doing bigger sizes

@FlorhamPark

Lewis's and Bizarre in Hanley.

We used to get the 320 to Hanley every weekend as teens in the mid 80s. Had a sausage roll and a Coke in Lewises cafe then hit Woollies and C&A. Got a fab black jumpsuit from C&A I wore until it had holes in it

Texas- the DIY store, and similarly “Do It All”
Courts- the furniture shop.
Rumbelows- similar to Dixons ( another shop that’s gone)
And remember Radio Rentals?

@PurpleSproutingSomething

There was a restaurant place in Manchester called The Dutch Pancake House, I loved it.

Yes! My dad used to take me here on a weekend for a treat as a child I loved it!

I'm glad it's not just me who misses Old Orleans. We should crowdfund to open one :)

@OwlinaTree

What will be the next high Street casualty? I vote Marks and Spencers.

I disagree. I think the food hall saves their skin, it’s always packed in my local M&S and I go in every week for the odd bits and bats. They also have the partnership with Ocado now, I think it’s a hugely popular institution and I can’t see it disappearing any time soon (or ever, hopefully!).

I liked Woolworths as a child but I think there’s similar stores now like wilko, home bargains and B&M.