Available on EtsySome sweet memories of Woolworths. Never heard of Betty Lou and Tokalon make-up. Tokalon doesn't sound like a name I'd choose for make-up
View attachment 188666
Source : British Newspaper Archive
Available on Etsy
Thanks for interactive map. Tried it and it works. Does Leroux have the same for other areas? I tried leroux.co.uk and just get a blank page.Available on Etsy
Available on Etsy
Thanks for your interest in the map, unfortunately I have only covered the Aston area and still have many streets in Aston to add, would love to cover the whole of Birmingham but it would be a mammoth task and beyond my computer skills I think.Thanks for interactive map. Tried it and it works. Does Leroux have the same for other areas? I tried leroux.co.uk and just get a blank page.
If you can tell me how it's done, I'll take a stab at doing some.Thanks for your interest in the map, unfortunately I have only covered the Aston area and still have many streets in Aston to add, would love to cover the whole of Birmingham but it would be a mammoth task and beyond my computer skills I think.
I do not remember that shop, the one I do remember was the one near the Bull Ring. It seems we would go 5here every Saturday in the ‘50s. To the market and flower ladies (a friend of my mom). BTW they lived VERY well. And they is I was good to Woolworths. They always had lots of seasonal stuff decorated with cellophane and plastic do dads.With Easter approaching, I've been reminded of the giant Easter egg that was raffled at the Kingstanding (Hawthorn Road) shop in the 1960s. It was decorated with pastel coloured flowers and twirls, and wrapped in masses of cellophane. Used to be perched high up on a shelf above the counter (the stand-alone counters in the middle of the shop - not against the wall). Alongside it would be smaller versions of the large egg. Wonder who made these eggs?
Woolworths were quite a retail empire having around 800 stores in the UK at their peak.
It may say quick lunch Viv, I know some Woolworth stores did have cafes
Went there MANY times with my mom on a Saturday morning, late 50’s, great photo!This makes you realise how large the store had become. No date, probably late 1950s and not long before the Bull Ring redevelopment. Possibly late Spring as there are deck chairs for sale. Does it say: "Quick Lunch Bar* across the upper storeys ?
View attachment 194161
OP’s late 40’s!Went there MANY times with my mom on a Saturday morning, late 50’s, great photo!
Well spotted Lyn.in vivs photo i think it says in big letters cafeteria above the entrance on the right
The Woolworth store in Spiceal Street did have a restaurant and it was well patronised with good everyday style of meals and more to the point good value and a service to suit the busy shopper.
I believe the 'quick lunch' reference was a contrast to the more sedate, waitress attended, to be found in more expensive establishments.
Woolworth stores could be found even in smaller towns and I am sure that many were to found in the Birmingham suburbs.
Most Woolworths had wooden floors. It is much easier on the shoppers feet especially those older. Hard floors like cement or hard tile while maintaining costs are a little low are harder on the shoppers feet. They. Want the shopper to stay longer, it worked.The Hawthorn Road Kingstanding branch had wooden floors too (probably parquet). The date of the branch wouldn't have been before the 1930s as it was part of a 1930s shopping parade. I remember it had counters with a frame above them to hold more stock, although I think by the 1960s, that had all gone. I remember them selling certain non-perishable food priducts like jam, sugar and tea. There wasn't any stacking if item as I recall, it was all out on counters at waist height, with glass dividers between items. It was a place to browse, especially at Christmas. And it was a double shop frontage, so plenty of space. Sometimes Mum bought Ladybird clothes for us from there, in particular I remember a grey pleated school skirt and a pale blue mohair cardigan.