SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

It's in tonight's EP that the men's outfitters Greenwoods went briefly into administration but then was sold immediately (by the administrators) to one of China's largest clothing retailers,and will continue to trade as normal(oh yeh!) Greenwoods shops were everywhere and both my grandads were kitted out head to toe in their gear.The head office was at white cross Guiseley for many years and the building had a huge map of england on the gable end with a dot for every store location.So another long established business as good as lost.My mother in law worked as a housekeeper to the Greenwood family when they lived in Cragg Wood,Rawdon before they moved to their country estate.

Lilysmum wrote: It's in tonight's EP that the men's outfitters Greenwoods went briefly into administration but then was sold immediately (by the administrators) to one of China's largest clothing retailers,and will continue to trade as normal(oh yeh!) Greenwoods shops were everywhere and both my grandads were kitted out head to toe in their gear.The head office was at white cross Guiseley for many years and the building had a huge map of england on the gable end with a dot for every store location.So another long established business as good as lost.My mother in law worked as a housekeeper to the Greenwood family when they lived in Cragg Wood,Rawdon before they moved to their country estate. They seem to have wound back to a handful of stores and an online shop in the last few years so the company must have been bouncing along the bottom. I don't suppose they can compete with the supermarkets and discount clothing stores. They never give family discounts either

There used to be one in Morley, but not for many years. That last time I bought anything from one was about 7/8 years ago - we went to visit friends in Northwich and I realised I hadn't packed a shirt - so bought one at Greenwoods.

The one in Crossgates has been advertising its cloure for longer than I can remember.

I suppose the decline in men wearing sports coats, and ties and that classic that Greenwoods sold the cloth cap, has caused their business to suffer. My dad always wore a tweed cloth cap from Greenwoods. The label inside was diamond shaped. I think they also sold that other item that's seldom seen these days, the boys school cap.

chameleon wrote: The one in Crossgates has been advertising its closure for longer than I can remember. Thats very true - it's got to be getting on for a year now since the signs went up. Mind you, the whole Cross Gates / Arndale shopping centre is starting to get a bit scuzzy and the steady drip of "big name" shops closing isn't helping.I think it suffers from very much being an "old mans shop" - does anyone under 60 buy light green slacks for example? Walking into a Greenwoods shop is like stepping back 20 years in time - try it before they all close and you'll see what I mean.I agree that they simply can't cope with the supermarkets. £10 there buys a perfectly adequate pair of work strides, but they are twice the price at Greenwoods.

chameleon wrote: The one in Crossgates has been advertising its cloure for longer than I can remember. The Crossgates branch of Greenwoods has finally closed

Barwicker wrote: chameleon wrote: The one in Crossgates has been advertising its cloure for longer than I can remember. The Crossgates branch of Greenwoods has finally closed Quite the end of an era (certainly one which I think might have existed longer than I have), but then, we are seeing and no doubt will see even more 'era ends' over the next year or so. You do have to wonder how many of these businesses were run almost on fresh air and luck - hoping to be paid today to be able to pay for tomorrow.    

There is still a Greenwoods in Wakefield near the Ridings.I was thinking the other day on seeing the discount signs in the window that the firm must be in trouble.I hadn't realised it went into admiistration and was bought.

Steve Jones wrote: There is still a Greenwoods in Wakefield near the Ridings.I was thinking the other day on seeing the discount signs in the window that the firm must be in trouble.I hadn't realised it went into admiistration and was bought. From what I have read over the last few days I'm not sure if the menswear side of things was still in the hands of the "Greenwood" family. I know (as my late mother in law worked for the family) that many years ago it was split into several different companies with business interests over and above the mens clothing, such as shopping malls in the USA,so maybe the less profitable bits have been sold off over the years.