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Rackhams Store

A Sparks said:
I don't live in Brum now but I believe Rackhams (House of Fraser) has now closed.
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Nope, it’s still open! They’ve even replaced some branding on the inside back to Rackhams!

Even the lower ground, and 7th floor have removed-opened so there’s now 7 floors open out of 8. LG is bikes and 7th is Clearance and Winter Wonderland.
 
Cameron said:
Nope, it’s still open! They’ve even replaced some branding on the inside back to Rackhams!

Even the lower ground, and 7th floor have removed-opened so there’s now 7 floors open out of 8. LG is bikes and 7th is Clearance and Winter Wonderland.
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Thanks - that's interesting to know!
 
It may still be open Cameron, but it's nothing like the Rackhams that we once knew (below). Since Mike Ashley took over "House of Fraser" the store has become a pile it high, retail outlet (it seems mostly for handbags) The quality named counters on the ground floor and above (such as Chanel & MAC ), have mostly long gone (leaving just Clinique & Dior according to my wife), like the fabulous, albeit pricey lower ground floor food hall, the uniformed doormen, lift attendants and Father Christmas on the top floor. What was once Birmingham's Harrods is now sadly more like a JJB Sports outlet.

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John L said:
It may still be open Cameron, but it's nothing like the Rackhams that we once knew (below). Since Mike Ashley took over "House of Fraser" the store has become a pile it high, retail outlet (it seems mostly for handbags) The quality named counters on the ground floor and above (such as Chanel & MAC ), have mostly long gone (leaving just Clinique & Dior according to my wife), like the fabulous, albeit pricey lower ground floor food hall, the uniformed doormen, lift attendants and Father Christmas on the top floor. What was once Birmingham's Harrods is now sadly more like a JJB Sports outlet.

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I was just sharing with the previous poster, who was wrong, that the store is open. I was just giving factual information as to how many floors are open. You have given your opinion as to how it compares to Rackhams, and that’s fine.

I am too young to remember Rackhams, but from the stories I’ve heard, and the photos I would certainly agree it’s a shadow of its former self.
 
Thanks for providing the information that you have done Cameron. It is a lot different now than it once was and that opinion is all that I was adding to the facts that you have so kindly provided concerning the number of floors that are currently open and what is being sold on the lower ground & 7th floors now.
 
I suppose everything has to change and I expect Rackham's is catering to the younger generation now. They seem to have the 'disposable income' don't they?
 
Always hated the ground floor the stink used to make me feel sick, still can not stop sneezing when i am close to people with to much perfume on.
 
Another interesting point that I don’t think has been mentioned, Legal and General (owners of the building) have put the Rackhams site up for sale.
 
I remember the cheese counter, well you do don’t you, just follow the aroma! But we always went to Lewis’s for our specialty cheeses.

Viv

559AC9EB-FADD-489A-A05C-8B7542A08A00.jpegSource: British Newspaper Archive
 

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I worked in Birmingham in the 1980s and loved browsing round Rackhams in my lunch hour; trying to dodge the ladies on the cosmetics counters who had a tendency to squirt you with perfume as you walked past! I well remember the food hall on the lower ground floor - we always used to go there for cream cakes if it was someone's birthday.
 
It has been suggested, rather informally, that Mike Ashley has purchased the Rackhams Building (Freehold) back from Legal and General.

House of Fraser originally sold the building in the 1980s to British Land.

Can anyone confirm ?
 
Cameron said:
It has been suggested, rather informally, that Mike Ashley has purchased the Rackhams Building (Freehold) back from Legal and General.

House of Fraser originally sold the building in the 1980s to British Land.

Can anyone confirm ?
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i cant see anything online but it would not surprise me as it would be just a drop in a large ocean for mr ashley

lyn
 
I would think it would be necessary if he wanted to "develop" the site . There might be restrictions on the lease .
 
It is unlikely to be positive news, if Mike Ashley is involved, in my opinion. I'm afraid shopping at Rackhams in Birmingham and House of Fraser in Sutton, isn't near the experience that it once was, since he got his hands on these stores.
 
Tinpot said:
Bought by Mike Ashley as part of the Fraser Group. Website says they are ‘Rethinking Retail’. Seems it has to be some kind of ’experience’ now!
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We visited the store recently and I can definitely say it was an 'experience'!! They seem to have been cutting back on lightbulbs and heating upstairs and it was full of stuff for the gym etc. I found it quite depressing.
 
Sounds awful, but very much a sign of the times.

I shall always think of Rackhams as the glossy, warm store with all sorts to grab the attention (albeit pricey). A few memories for me: unfamiliar smells of the food hall and the chance to buy something different, the cold, shiny balustrade of the staircase with marble steps from the Temple Row entrance giving a great view of the counters below, the great lighting, the lovely window displays and the amazing range of hosiery on the ground floor! I’d take all this in during my lunch hour as I worked above Rackham’s in Windsor House. But rarely did I buy in Rackhams. In terms of Rackhams clothes, as a youngster, I always thought they were too conservative (and in any case out of my price range) but the experience of walking through the store was always uplifting and vibrant.

Perhaps the fondest and strongest memory for me was meeting up with my aunt for lunch not long before she passed away. She was over here from the States and we had lunch in the restaurant. The time discussing memories and family history we shared in there was wonderful. I’m so glad we had that opportunity and we chose Rackhams (by then House of Fraser) to meet up.

Viv
 
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I think all the old house of Fraser stores are the same. A friend worked in the Reading one for a short time after he took over. It was chaos. Stuff arrived with no codes saying what it was. Whole areas were filled with stuff, like gym stuff from his other stores. Some things arrived and one iem would have one price while another of the same thing had a different price.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Sounds awful, but very much a sign of the times.

I shall always think of Rackhams as the glossy, warm store with all sorts to grab the attention (albeit pricey). A few memories for me: unfamiliar smells of the food hall and the chance to buy something different, the cold, shiny balustrade of the staircase with marble steps from the Temple Row entrance giving a great view of the counters below, the great lighting, the lovely window displays and the amazing range of hosiery on the ground floor! I’d take all this in during my lunch hour as I worked above Rackham’s in Windsor House. But rarely did I buy in Rackhams. In terms of Rackhams clothes, as a youngster, I always thought they were too conservative (and in any case out of my price range) but the experience of walking through the store was always uplifting and vibrant.

Perhaps the fondest and strongest memory for me was meeting up with my aunt for lunch not long before she passed away. She was over here from the States and we had lunch in the restaurant. The time discussing memories and family history we shared in there was wonderful. I’m so glad we had that opportunity and we chose Rackhams (by then House of Fraser) to meet up.

Viv
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I once bought a leotard from there, and a bottle of Guerlain eau de toilette (It was £10, which shows how long ago it was!) Also sometimes used to buy tea from the Food Hall, but nothing else that I can remember, as it was an expensive place. But yes, walking through was a very nice experience. And the coffee shop on the first floor was good.
 
It was always a good idea to walk along the first floor if you were on your way straight out for the night, from work. The girls on the perfume counter always used to ask if you would like to try a spray of the latest after shave, well it would have been rude not to.... :) I did buy some after shave there too over the years, so it did work both ways;).
 
Hi Everyone,

Just an update, House of Fraser Birmingham has turned into a House of Fraser Outlet.

- Level -1: Evans Cyclins
- Level G,1,2,3: 20% Outlet

Sports Direct are hoping the planning permission for the building expires before a developer is found for the site (as it’s current ones are selling) so that the process takes longer and planning applications have to be re-submitted; so they can continue trading there!
 
The store around 1960s. The pedestrian subway was still to be created at the junction of Bull Street with Corporation Street. Traffic looks horrendous! The first photo might just show the start of the subway development outside Dolcis although I'm not sure. Viv.

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