A sign of the times...
- 26 November 2008 18:279863I remember the years after the original Woolworth store in Dover was closed. What seemingly everyone wanted was to get 'their woolies' back.
Eventually it happened on the old Post Office site, but now we may lose it again. I found this report from BBC News:
High Street legend Woolworths........has gone into administration.......The move will put tens of thousands of jobs under threat...... .......The collapse of Woolworth is likely to lead to the closure of hundreds of stores across the UK. And it is also likely to lead to many thousands of redundancies. Woolworth has 815 stores. The store chain employs 25,000...... ...The company has struggled under the weight of £385m of debt. Its problems were compounded over the past couple of months when it was forced to pay cash when buying goods from suppliers, because trade credit insurers were no longer prepared to insure supplies to Woolworths. The company had tried all day to find buyers for its business. ]]]]]
Sad news. Lets hope someone will come forward and rescue them. No doubt a rescue will still see a threat of many redundancies and store closures in an attempt to turn it into a profit but lets hope that Dover's store remains safe. - 26 November 2008 19:269867You're quite right Barry it is sad news. I remember my Mother visiting our local Woolies in London to buy such things as biscuits, cooked meat and glucose sweets because she thought they were good for me. Alas the supermarkets now stock it all and Woolies has over the years been slowly squeezed out of the market.
A true British icon is in danger of disappearing into the history books.
I also feel for all those people that are about to lose their jobs. - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
26 November 2008 19:339868actuly its a american company it came here in 1909 along with selfridges.
- 26 November 2008 19:389869I know it was an American Company Brian but none the less it was regarded by people as being British.
- 26 November 2008 20:209871I also remember in the distant past when my Mum would take me to Woolies in Balham (Gateway to the South) to treat me to a crusty cheese roll and a glass of orange squash (Magic), I used to love the wooden floors, great for sliding around when yer a kid
You are right Brian, Woolworth's was one of the original 'five and dime' stores in the states. - 26 November 2008 20:339873i seem to remember them having snack bars years ago with a few stools in front of the counter, most people had to stand whilst consuming.
- 26 November 2008 22:369877That's right Howard, there were at least two bar stools screwed to the floor, don't panic PaulB - strictly no alchohol licence
- 26 November 2008 22:439879actually baz, i remember the glass containers that held orange and lemon squash!!
would i be right in thinking that they had stainless steel tea urns in which they stewed the contents for days before making available for purchase?
this nostalgia bit should really take in the lyons corner houses. - 26 November 2008 23:489883Don't forget, Liptons,Pearks, Home & Colonial and whatever happened to John Collyer, the window to watch.
- 26 November 2008 23:589885Yes Howard, stewed tea with an interesting metallic after taste, Yeuch!
- 27 November 2008 00:029886that reminds me of an old joke dave.
not pc though, englishman, irishman and scotsman stopped by the police for being drunk in a public place.
the copper asks for the name of the english bloke, he looks furtive then sees a shop sign and replies john, john what
john collier, he goes to the scottish chap asks the same question, the reply came back mark, last name was the question, spencer!!
he then goes over to the irish cove who is looking around in a desperate fashion.
your name please, the answer came back ken, last name, tucky fried chicken. - 27 November 2008 16:289903Love it!!
Yes it will be sad to lose Woolworths off the highs streets of Britiain, and especially so in Dover. I go in there from time to time and dont buy much but get the odd cheap thing, but it has lost the plot desperately as a strore. There is no strategy. Pile em high and sell em not so cheap, is or was the current company motto, which is no good anymore as the supermarkets can lick anyone on price in this area if they chose.
But a town without national chainstores will struggle. It would be great if some new version of Sir Stuart Rose or that Greene chap took them over and made it work, as its a national heritage. It started life as an American outfit but as I undertand it has been British owned for a long time.email: dover7@msn.com - 27 November 2008 17:129906McFisheries, Vyes, Pricerite, The International, David Greig, Hepworths, Tescos Home 'n Wear, Timothy Whites...the list goes on...
- 27 November 2008 20:059920Many childhood memories of trying to make a decision at the 'pick'n'mix' at Woolies, with the counters at chin level in Wallington.
Was amused later in life to find an almost idetical store in Port of Spain Barbados!
Ah Andrew, the name of MacFisheries brought back such a rush of nostalgia because my mother used to drive their little mini-van packed with fish from Upper Norwood to the Zoo in Crystal Palace and if I was good helping her out - take a turn round the vacant race track there - great fun for a small boy sitting in a crate at the drivers side (only one seat in the mini-van and probably no insurance either)
but well worth the awful smell of stale fish water in the van in summer holidays.
Ha! and Tom Collier, Tom Collier, the window to watch, where I bought my first formal suit and a (Velvet) jacket - so 70's.
Do hope Woolworths make it through, weren't they rescued by Dixons at some point in the late 80's?Oh Boy!, That'll be the day......... - 28 November 2008 00:129926buddy
i thought that dixons, one stanley kalms, took over rumbelows in the late 80's.