Great pity we have not any of the original buildings left in the old bullring, especially the old bus station & woolies. Good job we still have our memories & photo's.its up to this forum to help to keep the history alive michael
Hi Derek, I recall Woolworths on the Coventry Road Birmingham, at what is known as the Wheatsheaf (junction of Lode Lane and the A45 Coventry Road). I think Pep & Co. and Poundland now occupy that building judging by the brickwork. For me, the single item that made it so special was the vast range of Airfix kits. These were all made up, painted and pinned to a huge board over the model counter, maybe a dozen or more kits. Yes, they sold more than just wool! They were mostly WW2 planes both British and German as I recall. Of course, they were all done to a far superior standard than I could ever hope to do myself. Being around 7 or 8 at the time (and an avid Airfix modeller), this was a constant source of fascination to me whenever I went in with my Mom (which was a lot as we lived in Ventnor Road). I'm not sure whether a similar display was in all of their stores. However, the importance of Woolworths and model kits should not be underestimated! Kind Regards, Gary
What great picture, love the sports Argus van aswel l really miss paper that on a Saturday evening, hanging outside the news agent waiting for the delivery driver to drop them offI remember the Sutton Coldfield Woolworths as it was in the late 1960s.
image from another thread only visible if logged in
from https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/old-street-pics.38737/post-629970
Good to see this photo as it supports a comment I made somewhere on BHF about Woolworth. The photo clearly shows their slogan the "3d. to 6d. stores". The first time I saw that slogan was on the Woolworth store in New Street near the Odeon cinema.View attachment 132208i liked the layout, all the goods were in a island that you walked around.you could see what you were after. not like todays shops. it could be anywere. you did not have to ask a shop shelf filler. "excuse me were is such and such"
I.thought, earlier that the little cartoon was quite funny. I've just gone back for another look and I find that "a Scotch man" has been censored out.View attachment 132208i liked the layout, all the goods were in a island that you walked around.you could see what you were after. not like todays shops. it could be anywere. you did not have to ask a shop shelf filler. "excuse me were is such and such"
sorted baz he is backI.thought, earlier that the little cartoon was quite funny. I've just gone back for another look and I find that "a Scotch man" has been censored out.
A bit over-zealous, in my humble opinion.
Those special days in woolworth's in the Bullring could never be forgotten Paul, & unfortunately, could never replaced. As a worker at woolies, I really enjoyed every second at work. It was sometimes hard work in the kitchen in the cafeteria, but I still loved arriving at work every day.my memories are all of the old Woolworths down by the Bull Ring, went there with my dad every Christmas shopping not just for presents but trimmings and a cup of tea, being poor I some how always felt a bit rich in Woolworths, it was Christmas to me, later with both my boys we went every year at Christmas to Wooly's, and they treasure those memories, as I do.Paul
From my days working at the bull ring store, I believe you are quite correct. There was always some lady offering some assistance.Recorded in my diary for 8th February 1958 that I went to a self-service Woolworths in Yardley and later that day went to Woolworths in Acocks Green. Perhaps the self-service stores were just being introduced and still quite a novelty. Mention has been made on this thread that you could walk round an island with various items for sale and then presumably ask an assistant in the centre of the island that you were interested in buying a particular item. Can anyone confirm that this was the system before self-service? Thanks. Dave.