Lewis's Department Store

lennie · Post by **lennie** » Sat 30 Jun, 2012 1:18 pm

I also worked at Lewis,s on the men's wear in the seventies. we had a Manager called Mr Friend (totally wrong name for him0 he was horrible, I worked in MR S, The male version of Miss Selfridge. We had quite a laugh in those days I vaugely remember a floor walker called Mr Franklin too there was a little jewish chap called Mr Gold (Burgh) I think a really lovely chap. sadly those day's will never come back again, if you were there at the same time early sixties and remember me get in touch Lennie Siron

lennie · Post by **lennie** » Sat 30 Jun, 2012 1:22 pm

opops forgot the email [email protected]

Suvi · Post by **Suvi** » Sun 01 Jul, 2012 2:12 am

I have been told now on several occasions that a Lewis like department store is going to be built either on Kirkgate Market carpark or on the open air part of the market, along with plans to pedestianise the headrow and Eastgatecould be though chinese whispers

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 01 Jul, 2012 10:17 am

Suvi wrote: I have been told now on several occasions that a Lewis like department store is going to be built either on Kirkgate Market carpark or on the open air part of the market, along with plans to pedestianise the headrow and Eastgatecould be though chinese whispers This is a proposal by the John Lewis Group - a very large London based organisation - and will be far less "homely" than dear old Northern Lewiss's - that's if the Eastgate Scheme ever gets off the ground. If it does materialise it will be the virtual end of the once magnificent Headrow/Eastgate thoroughfare.

Riponian · Post by **Riponian** » Sun 01 Jul, 2012 10:32 am

I would see that what we're going to get in the Eastgate development is what the Yanks call a "cookie cutter mall". That is you can pretty much predict which stores are going to be there, just cut and paste the list of those at Meadowhall, Trafford Park and the Metro Centre.The retail sector needs new players - startups for a better word - to shake up the incumbants. Unfortunately with the greedy landlords squeezing them out it doesn't help. Do they really think by raising rents and emptying units they achieve this?I miss such as Schofields and Lewis's because you knew you were going to get decent service and exactly what you wanted not just what they think you want.Hmm, pedestrianising the Headrow and Eastgate? Could anyone ask just how much inconvenience that would cause to those who work and shop in the city and use the bus services that go along that route?

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 01 Jul, 2012 1:45 pm

[quotenick="Riponian"Hmm, pedestrianising the Headrow and Eastgate? Could anyone ask just how much inconvenience that would cause to those who work and shop in the city and use the bus services that go along that route? Quite so Sir, and I well recall the original bit of nonsensical "interference" in the Headrow. This was the installation along the full length of Lewiss's of the twirly narrow roadways and concrete flower pots. This immediately effectively removed any real chance of large buses safely passing each other, as we still witness all day and every day, and more shockingly meant that any emergency vehicle rushing to an incident in the densely occupied streets and shops is handicapped straight away.A further more recent nonsense (where ARE their brains ??) was the nifty little home made bottleneck at the bottom of Eastgate, reducing the eastbound carriageway to one bus width.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 01 Jul, 2012 2:53 pm

lennie wrote: I also worked at Lewis,s on the men's wear in the seventies. we had a Manager called Mr Friend (totally wrong name for him0 he was horrible, I worked in MR S, The male version of Miss Selfridge. We had quite a laugh in those days I vaugely remember a floor walker called Mr Franklin too there was a little jewish chap called Mr Gold (Burgh) I think a really lovely chap. sadly those day's will never come back again, if you were there at the same time early sixties and remember me get in touch Lennie Siron Sounds the ideal spot for "young Mr.Grace".......!

Terry M · Post by **Terry M** » Fri 06 Jul, 2012 11:08 am

Just catching up with the site and saw the posting from Lennie.Do you remember Mr O'Donnell who was manager of the Shirt Dept?.Also Phil Blower who worked on "Mr S", Richard Wilson ho was one of the A.S.M's and Elsa who worked part time on Mr S.I started on the Boys wear dept and move to "Mr S" when it opened, staying there until early 1974.We had some great times there and although Mr Friend was feared by everyone I found him to be someone who would support his staff 110%.It really was just like working on Are You Been Served, every day was just one great laugh.

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Sat 07 Jul, 2012 10:42 pm

I've just been reading about the redevelopment of Lewis's in Liverpool. The middle section of the building removed leaving two buildings, one offices and the other a hotel. Cost £160m. Shame they were allowed to butcher the building.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sun 08 Jul, 2012 10:19 pm

Lewis's - leftVallances - rightSchofields - over the Headrow