Robbs is saved – so what happens now?
With just over a week now passed since Beales’ takeover of Robbs of Hexham was confirmed, details of what the welcome change of ownership might mean for the historic 192-year-old store...
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One degree of separation, as Soult meets Shopjacket in the Teesdale Mercury
One of the things I love about retail is the way that you can always find obscure links between apparently unrelated places, people and shops – such as...
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Confirmed – Beales buys Robbs of Hexham
Just announced this morning – independent department store operator Beales has acquired Robbs of Hexham from MCR, the administrator of Vergo Retail, for £250,000. Sarah...
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From Stanley to Spennymoor – another gallery of North East former Woolies stores
Only counting the (33) North East Woolworths stores that closed down following the company’s 2008 administration, my quest to photograph the full set is nearing...
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Former Woolworths in Seaham – one store, two stories
Recent comments on this blog about the former Woolworths in Church Street, Seaham have given me the nudge that I required, having taken some photos of the store back in...
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Six former Woolies in and around London
While staying in London a couple of weekends ago, Alworths in Amersham (above) wasn’t the only former Woolworths I managed to visit… Having arrived at...
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Beales pursues Robbs takeover, while The Range owner eyes other stores
As the uncertainty over the future of the Vergo Retail store empire continues, potential suitors for some of the stores are starting to emerge. Here...
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Alworths plans Cupar and Forfar openings, as Graham pays a visit to Amersham
It seems that the ‘son of Woolworths’ chain Alworths has two new stores in the offing. Fife Today is reporting that Alworths will be opening up...
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Logging the North East’s long-closed former Woolies
Last week’s blog post about the long-closed former Woolworths in Benwell seems to have opened the floodgates to lots of comments and insights about other nearly-forgotten...
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Finding old Woolworths stores in unlikely places, courtesy of The New Bond
One of the things I most love about researching retail history is the way that interesting stories can emerge from the tiniest leads. As a...
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Newcastle Debenhams scores on customer service
Though I’d had a wander around several times before, today was the first occasion that I’d actually bought something from Newcastle’s recently opened Debenhams store....
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Shopping and lunching in Barnard Castle
A visit to the delightful County Durham market town of Barnard Castle always lifts the spirits, even if the weather when I was last there in...
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Joint TK Maxx and HomeSense store to open at MetroCentre in ‘late September’
The trouble of spending too much of my time visiting town centres and shopping malls is that I end up with more potential blog topics than I ever have...
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Second Tyneside Apple Store to open at MetroCentre
Just three months after opening a new store in the St Andrew’s Way extension of Eldon Square, I understand that Apple is poised to open...
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Beales “lodges formal notice of interest” in buying Robbs
It seems like it’s not just me who thinks that Beales taking over Robbs would be a good idea, with today’s Hexham Courant reporting that...
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Newcastle’s new fashion meccas take shape
The opening of St Andrew’s Way back in February – and Hollister, belatedly, in April – may have been this year’s biggest retail events in Newcastle,...
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Could Beales – or someone else – yet save Robbs?
If you read the Hexham Courant, you’ll have seen the extensive coverage in Friday’s paper of Robbs’ impending closure, following the announcement, by the administrators...
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Robbs and Joplings owner Vergo Retail in administration
Department and home store retailer Vergo Retail has gone into administration, placing a question mark over the future of the 19-store business – including the...
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Hollister Newcastle opens 15 April
Eldon Square’s new Apple Store may have attracted the most buzz at the opening of St Andrew’s Way back in February, but it’s Hollister that’s still...
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Big Homeware Strength but Barely Helpful Staff
Its interior may be somewhat dowdy, but I do have a soft spot for Newcastle’s Bhs store, in Northumberland Street. True, the fashionability of some...
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