Wilko End Of An Era

Last Sunday, 8th October, saw another major store close in Chester city centre. This time it was a popular, national general department store on Foregate Street. Wilko an end of an era. Of course, it wasn’t only the Chester branch that closed. Wilko, the company, had gone into administration some weeks before and after unsuccessful deals to keep it afloat fell through, the doors of Wilko stores were closing all over the country. A big shame and another addition to the High Street shop closure graveyard.

I liked Wilko. It was probably the nearest store type we had closely resembling the old Woolworth. Ah, I can see another trip down Memory Lane beckoning. But a quick mention of Wilko and a word of farewell.

Wilko End Of An Era

I took this sad photo shortly after 4:30pm on Sunday, 8th October. A once well stocked, busy High Street store, now completely devoid of goods stacked on shelves and customers. A sign of the times perhaps, but still sad nevertheless. Over the last few weeks while calling in there, I often asked some of the staff if they were fortunate enough to have alternative employment. Some had but, sadly, some hadn’t and were still looking. There were some though who weren’t going to do anything for the time being. These were members of staff who had been employees for 20+ years.

I wish all the best of luck to the ex-staff in their new ventures, whatever they may be.

Seeing it closed for the last time, made me reminisce about other large stores we’ve lost in Chester city centre.

Other Major City Centre Stores Lost

Where Wilko’s was itself, it only moved relatively recently from further down Foregate Street. But, in its last location one of the other popular, well-known occupants was Littlewoods. I know Marks and Spencer were also located there, but as we are talking about stores we have lost, I jumped straight to Littlewoods. An iconic store throughout the country, Littlewoods was not only a High Street store though. Who else remembers the massively bulky Littlewoods catalogue?

A Littlewoods store spin-off, for want of a better phrase, was Littlewoods Index. Downstairs you could flick through the catalogue, then enjoy a bite to eat upstairs. Index went in 2005.

Does anyone still do a similar catalogue any more?

As well as Littlewoods on Foregate Street, we also had Woolworths. Initially, “Woolies” were situated in Eastgate Street, but then moved to Foregate Street (where Primark is now) and continued there until closing in 2008. Another nationwide retail chain to bite the bullet.

Don’t get me started on how good their chips and gravy was in the cafe upstairs!! A fantastic snack on a Saturday lunch time for 9d (i.e. nine old pence) after the ABC Minors show.

Wilko End Of An Era – Others To Bite The Dust

Hang on, hang on. In terms of the geography of Foregate Street, I should have maybe mentioned British Home Stores first. Another nationwide, popular High Street to disappear. The store in Chester closed in 2016. Seven years ago. That’s a long time to leave such a large, iconic building empty.

In Frodsham Street we had Ethel Austin. It was one of the first places you could purchase affordable baby clothing. Ethel Austin though were another to get into difficulties and administrators closed 81 stores in total in 2010.

Back into Foregate Street. And let’s give a mention to Burrells. Burrells was the place to go for school uniforms and toys and a variety of household goods. And, when in my teens, young lads about town went there for Ben Sherman shirts. Who else had a white one and a green and white checked one?

Further down Foregate Street, where Primark is now, you had the mega popular C&A. I bought many dancing shirts from there as well. C&A were a mainstay on Foregate Street for nearly 30 years. Again, another nationwide chain, and another that bit the dust. All 113 UK stores were closed in 2000.

Deep sigh….it only seems like yesterday!!

Just Smell That Coffee

Those old enough will also and always fondly remember Owen Owen in Bridge Street. The waft of the coffee beans and the fresh continental meats as soon as you walked in on the ground floor were just a knockout. You could just stand in the doorway and inhale. Mega aromatic whiffs without a doubt. Many a time I would pop into there and buy a stick of Cabanos and just chomp on it while walking around town.

No wafts of coffee, but discount department store, T J Hughes were also a shoppers stalwart store for many years. Located in the then busy Forum Shopping Centre, the store sold everything for the home I seem to recall. Another popular store sadly missed.

Any ladies reading will also remember Miss Selfridge on Northgate Street. A popular store where many a dancing dress or skirt were bought I’m sure. Miss Selfridge closed in 2008. I’m not 100% sure, but isn’t it still empty?

Also on Northgate Street and another “Woolies-esque” store – Quaintways. Hands up who else used to look forward to being taken there by their Mum and being treated to a bag of broken biscuits? And, of course, as I got older, I used to pop upstairs into the old Quaintways club (aka the Jazzy, or Wall City Club). Quaintways would later go on to being Rendezvous (happy memories – my favourite Chester club) and now today’s Rosie’s. But talk about nightclubs is for another day.

Supposed To Have Been A Wilko End Of An Era Post Only

Anyway, I’ll call it a day on this topic now. I could really go to town (no pun intended) and mention some of the smaller independents. But moving on and all that. I will revisit some of these other stores though in due course. What started off as a “Wilko End Of An Era” post has developed somewhat hasn’t it.

I hope you enjoyed reading some of our long lost major department stores. Have I missed any? I probably have. I’ll have a think. But, for now, I’ll ponder a bit more about the smaller independents. Watch this space.

Oh, and before I finally sign off, no I haven’t forgotten about Browns. That store is worth a post of it’s own. Again, watch this space.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thanks for reading my latest blog post – Wilko End Of An Era. Let’s hope all the ex-staff get themselves sorted very quickly and that the store does not follow the same road as some of the others and stay empty for years.

To see all of my other blog posts on a variety of topics, then visit HERE.

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As This Is A Chester Related Website

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