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What’s a defunct shop or brand you miss the most?

Mrs POG and I were, just yesterday, lamenting the loss of BHS and their lighting department.

I had my first grown-up suit made to measure in Burton's, Croydon, now long gone. I seem to recall that every store had it's own snooker table because the original Mr Burton loved the game.

Blockbuster was always the go to place at the weekend to hire a video.
 
Beanos Croydon. It felt more like a youth club than a music shop.

And in general , a type of shop that cracks me up ? Any off-license that appears to be more like Fort Knox than a shop. All the booze hidden behind a security window. And the person serving you has one of those Police-alarm wristwatches they give to the elderly living alone.
I know at least a couple of venues in South London that fits the description. It makes airport security look amateur.
Also the new trend of putting a security alarm tag on a pound of cheese or a Ribeye steak.

The waning of Fish & Chips is lamentable. Especially the places with a chatty friendly local type working there.
 
Used to like Dixons. Worked at the Co-Op's tailor department saying "Suits you, Sir" & desperately trying to do inside leg measurements without embarrassment. "Which side do you dress, Sir?" Answer was usually "Eh?"
 
When I lived in Newham there was a local shop where the owner would sell in any quantities - 3 eggs, 8 slices of bread and 6 cigarettes? Sure. Someone else will buy what's left.
 
bit of an obscure one for the older HOLers.
Lower Addiscombe, Bingham halt station (this was where the tram stop is now, end bingham rd)
underneath the station bridge was the tiniest hole in the wall news agents / shop, stank of damp, with stock piled high on the floor and a tray of confetcionary.
2 people and it was full.
 
C&A

Not because I miss C&A.

But because I lament the fact it made obsolete a joke requiring a passing knowledge of C&A.

For posterity's sake, here is the joke in case anyone has not heard it:

Mother to 5 year old daughter before her first day at school

Mother: "let's make sure you get your shoes on the right way around so we are not running late for school tomorrow morning. You must be excited for your first day tomorrow."
Daughter: "I am, mummy yes. Look, I have my shoes on."
Mother: "Well done - but you have them on the wrong way around. Remember what we said about how to work this out? The one with R on the sole is the one which goes on... that's right, the RIGHT foot. And the one which has an L on the sole is the one which goes on the LEFT foot. Remember?"
Daughter: "Is that why I have C&A on my underwear?"
 
kingdowieonthewall said:
yes!!
one in sth.norwood & 1 in west wickham.
superb fayre.

I worked as a contractor, with the retired owner 1 week, in a school over st. marys cray way.
he was caretaker at the school a few years after they closed up shop.
nice chap.
Click to expand...
Also in Penge & Beckenham - never been able to find saveloys like theirs anywhere.

A a little aside on Kennedys, they were nice people too - my late Uncle was a dedicated St John's Ambulance man, and used to do the medical/accident mock up's for exams and competitions and major event training in the South of England (he always reckoned he'd failed if a least one person didn't faint when the 'casualties' were uncovered). He was having trouble dyeing up red liquids to represent arterial and venal blood, and realised that Kennedy's saveloys were exactly the shade he needed for one. So, he wandered into the Penge shop and asked what they used for colouring the skins..... having explained why he was asking, they not only told him but also ordered a large tub of the stuff and presented it to him free of charge as it was for a good cause. If only they knew how many near heart attacks he caused with his lifelike, bloodied casualties.
 
RubinsCube said:
C&A

Not because I miss C&A.

But because I lament the fact it made obsolete a joke requiring a passing knowledge of C&A.

For posterity's sake, here is the joke in case anyone has not heard it:

Mother to 5 year old daughter before her first day at school

Mother: "let's make sure you get your shoes on the right way around so we are not running late for school tomorrow morning. You must be excited for your first day tomorrow."
Daughter: "I am, mummy yes. Look, I have my shoes on."
Mother: "Well done - but you have them on the wrong way around. Remember what we said about how to work this out? The one with R on the sole is the one which goes on... that's right, the RIGHT foot. And the one which has an L on the sole is the one which goes on the LEFT foot. Remember?"
Daughter: "Is that why I have C&A on my underwear?"
Click to expand...
We have a C&A near us, Plaza Mar Dos just outside Alicante.

Laskys, the "hi-fi" outlets, worked in the Whitgift Centre one many many moons ago.
 
‘Our price records’ in Bromley. I just remember spending so much time in there flicking through the records and then going in there with my pocket money and buying the latest singles. Not that I’d want to do it now if it opened up again, times have changed, but it’s a memory of youth.

Then in the early 80’s they opened up the downstairs and they had all the latest computer games. Me and my mates were on first name terms with the staff we spent so much time in there

Those were the days 😀
 
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