23 November 2023 , 07:54
661
0
When it comes to the shop you'd most like to see return to our high street, there's a real pick 'n' mix to choose from, but one retailer stands head and shoulders above the rest.
We are, of course, talking about Woolworths, which topped our poll As British as fish 'n' chips, the bright and breezy store was once a familiar sight up and down the country. Woolies - as everyone fondly called it - stocked a vast range of toys, music and pick 'n' mix sweets.
With more than 800 outlets, it was a real giant of the British high street for more than a century. Unfortunately it came a cropper in the 2008 financial crash, and combined with changing shopping habits all stores were shut in 2009. Most of the old shops are now owned by other discount chains including Iceland and Poundland.
It's a brutally tough time for Britain's retail sector, with more shops shutting down in 2022 than at any other point in the past five years. Almost 50 stores closed for good every day last year - culling 151,474 jobs in the process, says the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
The advent of internet shopping is helping to slowly dismantle our traditional bricks and mortar retailers. But there are signs of a comeback after Wilko announced a return to the UK high street following its collapse into administration earlier this year. And one reader wondered if Woolworths could stage a similar rebirth, posting: "With the demise of Wilko I say bring back Woolworths."
High street loses fashion retailer M&Co with almost 200 stores set to close
In second place in our poll was department store British Home Stores, which primarily sold clothing and household items. It was a real stalwart of shopping precincts for 92 years before folding in 2016. At the time of its collapse, it had 163 stores in the UK, plus 74 international outlets across 18 separate territories.
Some experts claimed the shop was slow to respond to changing modern tastes. In third was another failing-to-move-the-times department store chain, Debenhams, whose physical presence on our high street ended in May 2021. It was bought by Boohoo group and now only trades online.
Other favourites in our poll also included the US-founded home video rental store Blockbuster. The simple joys of browsing and taking home physical media in the shape of a VHS video cassette or DVD must seem an alien concept to today's streaming-savvy youngsters. But that's what we used to do, and we loved it.
The chain was a massive hit on these shores for many years. But the rise of digital media soon started to chip away until it made trade impossible. By January 2013, the 91 remaining stores slipped into administration.
And there was also a special place in people's hearts for Virgin Megastore. Enjoying a long shelf life from 1971 to 2007, Virgin Megastore was mainly known for selling CDs and DVDs - and of course we all know how out of favour they are these days. Owner Richard Branson flogged his Megastores to new retailer Zavvi, but this wasn't enough to keep the business afloat, and it was game over at the end of 2008.
How you voted
Woolworths - 516
BHS - 157
Debenhams - 119
C&A - 70
Littlewoods - 18
All the shops, pubs and banks closing this year from Paperchase to Wetherspoon
Blockbuster - 16
Toys R Us - 13
Past Times - 12
Our Price - 8
MFI - 7
Virgin Megastore - 7
JJB Sports - 6
Dixons - 4
Mothercare - 3
MK One - 3
Dolcis - 3
Gamestation - 0
Freeman Hardy Willis - 0
Other - 12.
Many readers commented on our original story:
Christopher1959: "I loved Past Times, and I remember buying presents from there for my family. So therefore I would like to see this shop back. BHS, Virgin Megastore, and of course Woolworths I miss and would be great to have them back. I don't particularly miss C&A nor Debenhams."
Pukkamukka: "I miss finishing college and going in town to the Virgin Megastore and listening to new free music and playing the games consoles!"
Bertpie: "Woolworths for me. Woolies was the best shop, they did the best pick 'n' mix!"
Mrs Ted: "Woolies for me, it had a bit of everything. And I had my first Saturday job in one way back when."
Billwizz: "Athena was good, I agree the original Virgin stores too, with the old orange carrier bag ..."
Viking888: "(I think they) all failed due to management mistakes."
Falconhar: "I loved Woolies"
THFC4Tim: "With the demise of Wilko I say bring back Woolworths."
Do you agree with the poll results? Let us know in the comments