What was there before Borders?

Si · Post by Si » Tue 13 May, 2008 10:05 am

McDonalds opened in the UK in Scotland first. At the time (mid 70s I think) they were a franchise (maybe they still are?) There was some problem with this in England, and so they eventually opened as a wholly owned chain instead, hence the delay. That's what we were told, anyway!

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Tue 13 May, 2008 11:17 am

Wasn't Borders the Golden Egg years ago?

Kippax_Bird · Post by **Kippax_Bird** » Fri 16 May, 2008 11:41 pm

Chrism wrote: cnosni wrote: kierentc wrote: i was just looking on leodis...apparently muji has been there since at least 1999. blimey.most of the leodis pictures of that junction focus on the lewis' and the odeon buildings, sadly Muji was Dixons It was a 'cheap' shoe sop after Dixons, not [edited for content] stuff either. You could get a pair of Doc Martens for about £15, with nothing much wrong with 'em too. i remember it selling the Doc Martis., It was one of those catalogue clearance shops then. There was also a little shop calle Spunky Munky proper hippy place sold bongs and incense. used to be well scrufy up there a far cry from today

ablaze · Post by **ablaze** » Sat 17 May, 2008 12:10 am

Si wrote: I used to write McDonalds ads in the 80s. When I started, we had to research the product. I was expecting a classic USA burger, with a big, fat, juicy burger in a tasty bun with fresh lettuce, tomato and lashings of ketchup (as seen in 70s/80s air-brush art.)I had a Big Mac, the biggest and best burger made by the USA's biggest and best burger joint.What a disappointment!!! It wasn't even very big... was it you who wrote "it's the difference at macdonalds..." then?

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Sat 17 May, 2008 12:58 am

I seem to recall Dale's had a furniture store in Borders premises. It would have been below Greenwood's the Jewellers. On the same parade were Van Allen ladieswear and I believe an early Dorothy Perkins.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 17 May, 2008 6:15 pm

Si wrote: McDonalds opened in the UK in Scotland first. At the time (mid 70s I think) they were a franchise (maybe they still are?) There was some problem with this in England, and so they eventually opened as a wholly owned chain instead, hence the delay. That's what we were told, anyway! The Maccy D's are run as franchises now. I'm fairly sure that most of the ones in Leeds are run by the same firm too.As has already been said, that whole area was a bit scruffy up until the late 90's - probably about the time Briggate was fully pedestrianised. Borders is where Virgin Records were, with Wendys next door (now another McD's). I remember the cheap shoe shop on the corner too opposite Burtons.Does anyone else remember Peels Chemist (roughly opposite Virgin) which was the city centre late night chemist for years, always listed in the front of the YEP? And the shop next door that sold cheap cosmetics and household good - including perfume samples for a quid a go? Or Target Sports just a bit lower down where you could usually get the cheapest Adidas trainers in town?On a side note, how do Borders stay in business - every time I go in there it's more like the library than a book shop, with everyone stood around reading. A bit like WHSmith!

Yorkshire Pud · Post by **Yorkshire Pud** » Sat 17 May, 2008 8:22 pm

raveydavey wrote: Si wrote: McDonalds opened in the UK in Scotland first. At the time (mid 70s I think) they were a franchise (maybe they still are?) There was some problem with this in England, and so they eventually opened as a wholly owned chain instead, hence the delay. That's what we were told, anyway! The Maccy D's are run as franchises now. I'm fairly sure that most of the ones in Leeds are run by the same firm too.As has already been said, that whole area was a bit scruffy up until the late 90's - probably about the time Briggate was fully pedestrianised. Borders is where Virgin Records were, with Wendys next door (now another McD's). I remember the cheap shoe shop on the corner too opposite Burtons.Does anyone else remember Peels Chemist (roughly opposite Virgin) which was the city centre late night chemist for years, always listed in the front of the YEP? And the shop next door that sold cheap cosmetics and household good - including perfume samples for a quid a go? Or Target Sports just a bit lower down where you could usually get the cheapest Adidas trainers in town?On a side note, how do Borders stay in business - every time I go in there it's more like the library than a book shop, with everyone stood around reading. A bit like WHSmith! Yes I remember the chemist, but i'd totally forgotten about the shop next door with the cheap cosmetics. I remember buying some make-up from there when I was about 13 or 14 (probably some foundation which was totally the wrong shade )

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 19 May, 2008 8:45 am

Not sure what year this is, and I tyhink it misses of the Borders site, but it does show what is further up towards the Headrow....