Woolworths New Street

[Vivienne14]

Woolworths developed innovative schemes in the 1960s in partnership with City Councils and development companies to transform some of the inner-city stores. Brand new, modern Woolworth stores were built that made better use of space. They sold any surplus land that was released for cash.

An old-style store in New Street (shown in a later post) was replaced by a skyscraper which was named 'The Woolworth Building' and incorporated a tower of offices above the shop. The firm retained some of the office accommodation which they sublet as a commercial landlord, while selling the remainder to the developer.

The Woolworth Building was opened in 1961. Today the building is called 'Charters Building'. It was refurbished in the 1990s and a glass exterior lift was added. At street level, there are now several retail units.



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Woolworths New Street and the Woolworth Building

 

[MaggieF]

I worked at Woolworths New Street as a Saturday girl from 1967 to 1970, then in my hols from college at Woolworths in the Bull Ring in 1970 to 1973. The highlight was getting to work on the record counter (during Flower Power summer of 1967), when we could play whatever records we wanted during the week, so long as we played the top 20 at the weekend. We used to put The Beatles' 'Baby You're a Rich Man' on whilst we cashed up!
New Street also had a fresh veg counter, and we used to get stuck by the front doors selling our wares to incoming customers on a Saturday. It was freezing in winter, so we wore gloves! The Bull Ring was more up market with a 'supermarket' for food. I can remember if a customer wanted to pay by cheque - you had to get a supervisor to check it out! Happy Days and great friends were made there.

 

[Vivienne14]

This was the rear of the New Street Woolworths (the 1960s store). I frequently used this entrance to cut through from Stephenson Street to New Street. One small rear entrance doorway still shows some signs of former Woolworths occupation: typical glass panes above the doors and white tiled entrance floor. This rear view shows it too has been redeveloped.

 

[Vivienne14]

The 1960s 'skyscraper Woolworth Building' (now Charters Building) replaced a former Woolworths on the opposite side of New Street. It ceased to be Woolworths c1961 when the new building opened across the road. Nice to see the old building still exists. Part of the street level premises is now occupied, I think, by Betfred.

 

[Vivienne14]

An interior view of the 1960s Woolworths. When we discuss Birmingham Woolworths shops we tend to talk about the Bull Ring premises or those of the suburbs. The New Street shop tends to be overlooked, probably because of its position in New Street. In the 1960s it was a busy store, I remember using it through the 1970s when it was especially busy with workers in the City Centre. But by 1983 it had closed.

 

[Astoness]

like many of us i do miss shopping at woolies...this is the last one i shopped in in 2009 and had just closed down..

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