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Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:43 am
by RapidAssistant
We've had lost car dealers, lost Wimpy bars, lost department stores and lost record shops, but anyone remember other big chains that were once big household names and were merged, went out of business or otherwise fell into the forgotten trench of history....and can you remember where they were???

Some examples:

- Dodge City - Scottish DIY chain that was swallowed up by B&Q in the early 1980s; there was one on Hamilton Road, that finally closed as a B&Q in 2005 when the big one was built in Parkhead, torn down to make way for houses. Can anyone remember any others?

- Templetons Supermarket - (I believe Galbraiths were part of the same group); absorbed into Presto. then Safeway. There was one on Westmuir Street in Parkhead; it is now a Farmfoods I think.

- Clydesdale (the electrical retailer); there were several in Glasgow as it was a local firm. Think they got swallowed up by Dixons/Currys in the end. There was one on Jamaica St for sure, another on Duke Street, and they had a unit in the Forge, Parkhead as well which replaced the Westmuir Street branch.

- SSEB/Scottish Power; remember the big one on Sauchiehall Street opposite C&A's/Dunnes Stores?

...over to you!

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:30 pm
by banjo
bejam,freezeway.

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:36 pm
by Delmont St Xavier
City Bakeries
Crawfords Bakeries
Ross' Dairies
Massey-Lipton
House of Fraser (Arnott's, Arnott - Simpson, Binns).
Hutchison's
Littlewoods
C&A (Remains in Europe)
MFI
John Smith & Son Booksellers and Stationers (not the 'name' that continues in Uni shops).
Galbraith's
Munro the Butchers
Galloway Butchers

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:09 pm
by Vinny the Mackem
I remember a number of years ago when I was knee-high to a grasshopper the DIY type shop on corner of Knighstcliffe Road and Great Western Road called Vantage. I'm sure it became another couple of things (maybe even a Dodge City) before it became a B & Q for many years.

Think it's a Sainsbury's now.

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:24 pm
by Mori
I seem to remembr there were a few local Glasgow chains around, Curly's grocery stores was 1 around the city in the 60s/70s... Malcom Campbells, and Billys fruit shops, i think there are still a few Rs Mcolls around also the John Menzies Newsagents, loved the Buchanan st branch was my favourite. :D

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:50 pm
by RDR
Henry Healy's?
I'm sure there used to be lots of them.
One hung on in Argyle Street for a number of years.

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:52 pm
by RDR
Wm Lows Supermarkets, I once worked for them stacking shelves.

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:53 pm
by banjo
grafton.

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:54 pm
by RDR
Anyone mentioned Goldbergs?

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:23 pm
by Delmont St Xavier
Woolworths
Haddows
Agnews
Diggens - Bakers
What every woman wants

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:49 pm
by Bridie
Curley's they were like Galbraiths or Henry Healy's funny there's still an independant grocers in Belfast called Curley's wonder if there's a connection?

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:23 pm
by glasgowken
Presto.

Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:17 am
by robertpool
some items from the above

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Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:19 am
by robertpool
some more....

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Re: Lost Retail Chains

PostPosted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:06 am
by RapidAssistant
robertpool - loved the advert/invite for WEW - where exactly was "the 5-star Hospitality Inn" referred to??

John Menzies - still exists as a company of course, just the distribution/logistics side just they sold the retail operation to WH Smith, and the shops are more or less the same. The one in the Sauchiehall Centre has been there since the year dot! I still have lots of old J.M stationery kicking about the house!

Malcolm Campbell - good one, remember there was one on Hyndland Road if I remember correctly. And the logo, which was an 'MC' stylised as an apple.

Sports Division - branches everywhere in Glasgow (well along with junk food, it is impossible to make a loss selling tracksuits and football socks in this city.....)