Church Street Shopping Area

[Libertarian]

I know I am the Victor Meldrew of this site but living in this city makes you like that.

How long is it taking to resurface Church Street?

This started months ago and has got to be driving shoppers to the Trafford Centre.

I wouldn't mind but every time I walk down there it seems no one is working on it.

[Kev]

Its taking ages, I went into town this evening and the place is awful, plus the closing down of HMV.....Its almost like they are making it up as they go along....and I'm sure there's a piece of xmas lighting still up

[Max]

Speke Retails better.

[MarkA]

What caused the differences in the height of the pavement that the middle section needed to be tarmaced?

[stan]

Apparently they stopped working on it during the Christmas rush.But it seems as though they're having a two month holiday.

[snappel]

And 86 tea breaks every hour.

What annoys me is what happened to the original paving. Every time sewers or gas mains had to be repaired using open-cut methods, the block paving was taken up and replaced with quick, lazy tarmac. Is this going to happen again? I mean, within 12 months will the new work be patched with tarmac all over the place?

It is taking an age, and I'm not sure what the raised hump is about...

[lindylou]

[QUOTE=Suburban;38306]I know I am the Victor Meldrew of this site but living in this city makes you like that.

don't worry .. I'm a cross between Mrs Meldrew and Mrs Bouquet :celb (6):

... also brought on by living in this city .. or more to the point - this country !

:rolleyes:


( I am very Scouseproud underneath it all tho' ) :) :)

[PhilipG]

7 Feb 07.

[SteveFaragher]

And 86 tea breaks every hour.

What annoys me is what happened to the original paving. Every time sewers or gas mains had to be repaired using open-cut methods, the block paving was taken up and replaced with quick, lazy tarmac. Is this going to happen again? I mean, within 12 months will the new work be patched with tarmac all over the place?

It is taking an age, and I'm not sure what the raised hump is about...

there are several bits where this replacement of the cobbles with lump of tarmac or puttng the cobbles back crappily, I was so peeded of took some photos emailed them to some people in the council and was reliably informed that Enterprise, (run by the only officer to sell his soul to the Devil-David McElhinney)
were contracted to reinstate the pavements with 30 days, the last time I looked the job still hadnt been done, that was jsut under a year ago......I'm gona check see if they stil ahvent been done and get emailing again, I even emailed Warren "Phil Cool" Bradley, give him his due he did reply but if he cant get it done then no one can. It'll be interesting to see how quickly the pavements in the Grosvenor scheme get laid, and repaired, no tarmac there methinks, m'lorship wouldn't like it

[crabbers]

I might give Liverpool city centre a miss on the 12th. I thought it would be bad enough with just people going mad at Primark opening - not protesting outside it too!

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/09/08/protestors-to-target-primark-opening-64375-19756441/

[jon_hall]

Never thought i'd be alive when Primark actually managed to open that place.

[miguel]

There's a Primark just 15 minutes away in Birkenhead, with even better parking facilities than here in Liverpool. So why the excitement? It seems to me that 'bargain shopping' is the new religion.
Can't blame the protestors though. I hope there's some consistency here and that among them are those who supported the slavery museum at the other end of the street.
As I have wryly asked before, I wonder how many of those whose hearts bleed for African (not other kinds) of slaves over 200 years ago, fill their homes and dress in clothes manufactured under conditions worse than those experienced on many a plantation.

[Max]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iHDsO9ue0Nw

Primark staff should be trained In this ability.

[Howie]

a report claimed workers are paid as little as 13p per hour and forced to work excessive shifts and overtime periods at factories producing Primark goods in countries such as Bangladesh

Can you imagine what would happen if we stopped exploiting the developing world to provide us with cheap goods - the resulting pressure on wages and profits. OMG modern western capitalism would collapse! :rolleyes:

[Howie]

Countdown to Primark opening
Sep 11 2007
by Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/sep2007/7/6/F40A8661-9342-D227-CDF82A2560C093B6.jpg

WELCOME to Liverpool’s first Primark store.

These exclusive preview pictures ahead of tomorrow’s opening show the results of the massive conversion from Littlewoods’ former flagship Church Street store to the highly successful Primark brand.

Primark parent company Associated British Foods bought 120 Littlewoods high street stores in 2005 and retained about 40 for conversion.

Last year the group also bought the adjacent Open retail store to enlarge the Littlewoods site which delayed the original planned opening from October 2006. Work was also hampered by a fire on the third floor during building work in April.

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/sep2007/8/4/F40B887F-A564-B3CE-CABA6FD3C017E1DD.jpg

The new store, which has been refurbished to Primark’s latest format, now employs 901 staff working over five floors.

The new store has joined the 500-strong Business Improvement District (BID) which spearheads initiatives among city centre businesses.

BID chief executive Rita Waters said: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Primark to the city”

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/09/11/countdown-to-primark-opening-100252-19769458/)

[Howie]

New Primark Store coming to Liverpool



Primark is proud to announce the opening of its latest store on Wednesday 12th September in Liverpool on Church Street


You may see malicious rumours on the internet of special opening offers. These are untrue.


What is undoubtedly true is that Primark is bringing its permanently low prices to Liverpool.



No gimmicks, no special offers just unbeatable Primark value



Source: Primark (http://www.primark.co.uk/liverpool1.htm) ;)

[PhilipG]

901 staff?

You go in these places and all you see are about 3 people on the tills (if they're busy).

[Klaatu]

Walked down Church Street and Lord Street this morning (Fri 4th Jan).
The banners hanging across the Streets are "Rubbish"...What a great start to our Culture year.
Worse still, one of them says "creativity"

[SteH]

I think they are very disappointing, I went down Riverside Drive yesterday and it was impossible to make head or tail of what was on them, even as a passenger. They dont look very weatherproof either.

[Kev]

These ones? (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7263)

[SteH]

These ones? (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7263)


They're the ones Kev

[Kev]

So they've infiltrated town as well :PDT11 spreading like a virus. :PDT10

[Klaatu]

No, I don't mean those single banners Kev....I mean the multiple banners going right across Church/Lord street. They're on the wires that held up the Christmas lights.

I just walked down there again this morning(Monday 7th Jan)and most of them are torn to shreds by the weather!...They haven't been up for a week yet!

In my opinion they should all be removed and replaced with a new and better designed idea...The Ad agency involved in designing them should feel pretty embarrassed I think.:handclap:

[Kev S]

Please someone confirm this for me as when I have mentioned this to people in the past, they look at me like I'm on wacky backy.

In the late 80s early 90s there was two HMV's in town. One was upstairs in Church Street which you went up the escalators to. The other one was a single floor mini shop in Lord Street. If memory serves me right I would say it is kind of where French Connection is now.

Also, and this is the bit that people look at me funny when I metion this, next to the upstairs HMV in Church Street there was a Burger King next to it. Please confirm this is correct. I remember my Auntie and Uncle taking me there before I went to see Ghostbusters in the Lime Street Pictures!

[SteH]

I remember there being two HMVs, dont remember that Burger King though.

[lindylou]

Yes, I remember the 2 HMV's. The one in Lord st was only small. There was a cafe next to the Church st one (up the escalator) - not sure if it was Burger king or not. (it is a possibility).

I can remember when it was Woolworths cafe. That's going back some years.

[chippie]

Yes Kev, the hmv shop is now going to be a walk through arcade, so yes, we don,t have another hmv in town.

[paddyryan]

You are right about it Kev, once, many years ago, I had a Chrimbo job on security at Church street HMV, and there was a Burger King next to it.

[shoney]

I remember the burger king up the escalters, on the same side of church st as coopers buildings ( old wh smith store ),then I think further up the street it was C&A , and Top Shop, then I think it was burgerking and HMV,

[Ged]

Yes Kev, the hmv shop is now going to be a walk through arcade, so yes, we don,t have another hmv in town.


Yes, I too can confirm the small HMV in Lord St and obviously the one upstairs next to Top Shop with the Burger King next to it.

Chippie, we do still have a HMV in town, it's in the old Gas place in Bold St.

[chippie]

Oh yes, sorry Ged, I,ve given out wrong information.

[pasha]

hi can some one tell me where i can find a picture of the coal yard on picton road, opposite the leigh arms or the cambridge pup? my dad used to work there any help is really appreciated
debbie

[pasha]

sorry i should have started a new thread

[Klaatu]

Walked down Church street again this morning (22nd Jan)...Banners in tatters again...What a load of rubbish!

[lottie]

We have banners near me on Utting Avenue, i can't even read them as they blow everywhere. They look filthy aready. They won't last long, cheap tat.

[gregs dad]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2388/2212825548_75c6730a87_o.jpg
Has this building in church st got a name ?
It looks like a chocolate layered cake to me.

[PhilipG]

[QUOTE=gregs dad;105429Has this building in church st got a name ?
It looks like a chocolate layered cake to me.[/QUOTE]

It used to be the Lord Street Arcade.
Something like the Wayfarer's Arcade in Southport.
Designed by W Aubrey Thomas (Royal Liver, Tower Buildings, etc).
It opened in 1901.
In the 1980s the upper part was the Strawberry Dance Studios and they let me take some photos.
I'll try and dig them out.

[Cadfael]

Even I didn't recognise that building - sterling work Philip.

It's sad to say that most of us walk around town with our heads down, myself included!

[iain]

I agree, the ones I've seen around town look tatty already. The ones on Duke St at least are semi-transparent, so they look faded and worn-out straight away.

[John(Zappa)]

There's loads of filthy tatty ones by Queens drive and Walton Hall ave too.
Get rid of em now and the Lambanana things before the summer tourists come!:PDT11

[lindylou]

I've often looked up at that building. I didn't know it was originally tho'

[Waterways]

It's sad to say that most of us walk around town with our heads down, myself included!

I look some French people to Liverpool in the summer and they were constantly looking up all the time and pointing to some building or other. We take it all for granted.

[Klaatu]

There's loads of filthy tatty ones by Queens drive and Walton Hall ave too.
Get rid of em now and the Lambanana things before the summer tourists come!:PDT11

I couldn't agree more:handclap:

[Ged]

I went with a party on one of Pat Neill's guided tours (Liverpool monuments chap) It was Herbert Tyson Smiths monuments around Liverpool city centre. We kept looking up and pointing and I lost count of the number of passers-by and shoppers who stopped by us, turned and looked up to see what we were looking at or asked us. Helped on no doubt by me looking up and shouting 'don't do it' now and again :unibrow:

[shoney]

it's very impressive, wheabouts on the street is it exactly

[gregs dad]

Right hand side going towards the river

[lottie]

Me too, why is is we have to look at rubbish decided by someone else. Put something better in their places.

[Klaatu]

Went down Church Street today...2 of the big banners have gone!!!

I think they've been taken down.

[Atany]

Not the big party at the moment?

[Ged]

News just in at 2pm. Apparently a 4 year old girl has fallen from the 1st floor through a gap at the escalators.

[Kev]

OMG Ged, I hope she's ok :(

[Ged]

Taken to hospital, shopgoers reported to be visibly shocked. It was a news just in item on Merseyside news as I was pulling up in the works car park.

[Kev]

Thanks for the update so quick

[pasha]

oh my god i do hope this little one is alright

[robbo176]

thats shocking news ,I hope the little girl will be alright

[lottie]

Oh my god :shock: Hope she is ok.

[ChrisGeorge]

Sorry to hear the bad news. I hope she is alright.

Chris

[John(Zappa)]

Sorry to hear the bad news. I hope she is alright.

Chris

Ditto:PDT_Piratz_26:

[lottie]

Just been on news, she is 3 years old and it was from second floor. She is critical. Poor thing, my thoughts are with her and her family.

[robbo176]

Three-year-old in horror plunge inside Liverpool's Primark storeApr 4 2008

by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo


A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl was today fighting for her life in hospital after a horror plunge in a city centre store.

The youngster fell more than 100 feet inside Primark on Church Street in front of stunned shoppers.

The girl was on the second floor when she toppled over into the gap between escalators and plunged three floors to the basement.

She was rushed to the Royal Liverpool Hospital with her distraught family, where her conditon was described as critical.

Emergency services said she had ‘torso-based’ injuries and was suffering from breathing difficulties.

An announcement was made over the public address system and hundreds of shoppers were evacuated.



http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=three-year-old-in-horror-plunge-inside-liverpool-s-primark-store%26method=full%26objectid=20721212%26siteid=5 0061-name_page.html

[Ged]

Even worse than first reported. Let's hope she recovers.

[sweetcheeks]

What a horrible thing to happen I can only hope the outcome is a good one, how very sad.

[Gnomie]

Shocking. I hope she is ok.

How could this happen?

[John(Zappa)]

Shocking. I hope she is ok.

How could this happen?

Accidents do happen.Let's just hope the poor little kid recovers quick.:PDT_Aliboronz_11:

[Gnomie]

I mean how can she get through a gap? There should be no way through, was she climbing?

I hope she is ok

[Howie]

Girl critical after Primark fall

A three-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after falling about 100ft (30m) from an escalator in Liverpool's Primark store.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44541000/jpg/_44541936_primark282.jpg
The store was closed on Friday
afternoon

The toddler was travelling up to the third floor with her family when she fell through a gap between the escalators to the lower ground floor.

She was taken to hospital where she is said to be suffering from broken bones and internal injuries.

The Church Street fashion store was closed after the incident.

The shutters of the shop were brought down on Friday afternoon as police and health and safety officers were called to investigate.

Merseyside Police said emergency services were called at about 1330 BST and the child was taken by ambulance to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital for treatment.

Officers spent the afternoon searching CCTV images and questioning staff and shoppers who may have seen the child fall.

A spokesman said an investigation was now being carried out by Liverpool City Council and the Health and Safety Executive.

A Primark spokesman said: "We are obviously profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the accident in our Liverpool store this afternoon.

"We are doing all we can to assist the authorities in their investigation.

"All our thoughts are with the little girl and her family."

The discount fashion store, which at 84,000 sq ft is one of the biggest in the UK, opened last September after a major redevelopment of what had been a Littlewoods store.

It covers five floors and is even larger than the branch on London's Oxford Street.

On its opening day, eager shoppers queued around the block to be the first in and crash barriers were erected outside the building to avoid a scrum.

Source: BBC NEWS | Merseyside (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7330810.stm)

[Howie]

I hope she is ok

The girl's condition has now been downgraded from critical to stable but poorly.

I noticed today in Primark that they had security staff at the escalators ensuring that children were being safely escorted and were stopping women with buggies and making them use the lift.

[jon_hall]

Wonder if there is a gap? If it's a case of the poor girl has climbed up and over, not too much can be done as it's the same in most stores.

If there is a gap at ground level, then Primark will be in serious trouble with the HSE (as well as whoever did the work)

Better news that though, falling from 2nd floor to basement is a fair distance, and most deaths from falls are usually under a couple of metres never mind how far she fell in this incident.

Hopefully she can fully recover.

[Howie]

Wonder if there is a gap?

There is no gap. Somehow or other she must have gone over the top of the moving handrail.

[CHRISMIZ]

I have a grandaughter the same age as this little girl, I pray that she makes a full recovery.


This is a posting from one of the echo forums, the person who posted said he still has a record of his report,.

worked at that store as a security officer and on the first 2 days of trading i reported at least 4 incidents involving children on those escalators,all fell on deaf ears,now this has happened....who knows

[

[snappel]

I noticed today in Primark that they had security staff at the escalators ensuring that children were being safely escorted and were stopping women with buggies and making them use the lift.
Knee-jerk reaction, yes/no?

This is stupid. The parents should have been paying better attention. It's not the staff's fault. This is just Natural Selection.

[lottie]

I must agree Snappel, parents have to take responsibility. There is only so much that can be done to safeguard children. What do we do at home with stairs going to bed? Doorsteps? Steps outside shops?, the list goes on. I don't know how this girl fell and i DO sympathise but there has to be some common sense.

[jon_hall]

I have a grandaughter the same age as this little girl, I pray that she makes a full recovery.


This is a posting from one of the echo forums, the person who posted said he still has a record of his report,.

worked at that store as a security officer and on the first 2 days of trading i reported at least 4 incidents involving children on those escalators,all fell on deaf ears,now this has happened....who knows

[

Then he should have phoned the HSE if it fell on deaf ears.

If it is a massive risk to the public, i'd think they would have been there quite quickly.

Anyone know how these escalators differ than anywhere else (if at all?)

[Cadfael]

I know as a 4 year old, i wasn't allowed to move more than the length of my parents arm, no matter where I was.

[Howie]

Primark fall girl: Family release picture and thank staff who saved her
Apr 6 2008

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolpost/apr2008/7/4/24EA0F8F-FEF8-23AB-C3DB819E59B886F1.jpg

The three-year-old girl who was injured as the result of a fall from an escalator in Primark on Friday has been named by police.

Evie Parry remains in a 'critical but stable' condition in hospital today.

She has been treated for a broken left arm and left leg and for internal injuries. Her condition continues to be closely monitored.

She is being treated at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital.

A police spokesman said: "Evie's parents would like to express their thanks to all the staff at the Primark store and also the members of the public, who responded quickly in providing 'First Aid' to their daughter after she fell.

"Evie's parents would also like to thank all the staff at the Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, particularly all the staff at the Intensive Care Unit.

"At this stage Evie's family have asked that the media continue to respect their privacy as they do not wish to speak to the media at this time."

Evie was initially treated at the Royal Liverpool Hospital before she was transferred to intensive care at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

She fell from the second floor to the ground floor at the Church Street retail unit at about 1.30pm on Friday.

Detectives were investigating the incident together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Liverpool City Council.

Crime scene investigators and the HSE carried out forensic examinations of the scene.

On Friday night, ouncil engineers tested the escalators and cleared them of any mechanical faults.

The store, which at 84,000 sq ft is one of the biggest Primark stores in the UK, has reopened its doors with the escalators in use.

Geoff Lancaster, Head of external affairs at Primark, said: "The Health and Safety Executive gave us clearance to open the store.

"We have drafted in additional senior staff from other stores because obviously the staff on duty yesterday were pretty shocked by the whole thing.

"We also have additional security on throughout the store and they will be paying extra attention to the escalators but this is purely a precautionary measure."

The victim was initially treated at the Royal Liverpool hospital but transferred last night to Alder Hey’s intensive care unit with her mother.

The crowded store, hugely popular since it opened last year, was cleared at about 1.40pm after horrified shoppers saw the girl fall.

Liverpool City Council health and safety officers are leading the investigation which includes police Crime Scene Investigators and the Health & Safety Executive.

They will review CCTV footage and gather statements from eye-witnesses to determine how the youngster came to fall.

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/04/06/primark-fall-girl-family-release-picture-and-thank-staff-who-saved-her-64375-20727985/)

[jabs]

Hi,
Wondered if there was anyone out there who could help me identify a business at the above address in liverpool around 1880's where my great grandfather and possibly some of his children were employed. seems like a large department store of some kind.
There were a large variety of retail merchandise and possibly manufacturing on the premises.
Am researching the bolgers who lived in walton on the hill and kirkdale around this time.
Any help gratefully received as I live in new zealand, and its easier I guess to ask the local people.


kind regards,
jabs.

[gorgeous]

Morning Jabs from a rainy Liverpool,

I can find a Patrick Bolger b 1851 Ireland , in 1881 he was at 45/53 Church Street , Compton House. His occ a Drapers Buyer. Is this your man ?

Karen x

[PhilipG]

Hi,
Wondered if there was anyone out there who could help me identify a business at the above address in liverpool around 1880's where my great grandfather and possibly some of his children were employed. seems like a large department store of some kind.
There were a large variety of retail merchandise and possibly manufacturing on the premises.
Am researching the bolgers who lived in walton on the hill and kirkdale around this time.
Any help gratefully received as I live in new zealand, and its easier I guess to ask the local people.


kind regards,
jabs.


Compton House is still there today, as M & S.
It was built in 1866-7, as one of the first department stores in the world for the retailer J R Jeffery.
On the upper floors were workshops, as well as sleeping accommodation and recreational facilities for live-in staff.

[jabs]

[QUOTE=gorgeous;125311]Morning Jabs from a rainy Liverpool,

I can find a Patrick Bolger b 1851 Ireland , in 1881 he was at 45/53 Church Street , Compton House. His occ a Drapers Buyer. Is this your man ?

Karen x

Hi karen,
Thats one of them I believe,the others were philip,stationer and printer, michael clerk,vincent clerk, and josephine and mary,saleswomen. the whole darn family must have worked there.
Thanks for your help,very much appreciated. I see philip g. has named it and it is still there apparently.

kind regards and thanks again from a very dry new zealand

jabs

[jabs]

Hi philip g
Thats brilliant. I take it by m&s you mean marks and spencer?
I think just about the whole family must have worked there but not necessarily lived on site as they had a house in roscommon street and their occupations are shown as printers ,clerks and sales women. A large portion of my ancesters originate from west derby to bootle and its interesting to find out what they were doing prior to emigrating to australia and new zealand.
Once again thank you for your input.

regards jabs. (John)

[PhilipG]

Hi John.

Yes, Marks & Spencers.
I'll see if I've got it on an old postcard, some of which have Compton Hotel on the towers.
I've never checked if it was a commercial hotel on the upper floors, or whether this was another name for the sleeping quarters.

[Ged]

Philip will no doubt have a better full on view of the Compton Hotel but here's a 1908 view owned by the L.R.O. as seen from the Lord St junction.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6418/churchstcomptonhotelzc2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



.

[PhilipG]

This postcard is about 100 years old.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/349136147_9a1df48f62_o.jpg

[lindylou]

Lovely :handclap:

[Ged]

Cracking postcade that Philip.

[shoney]

[QUOTE=gorgeous;125311]Morning Jabs from a rainy Liverpool,

I can find a Patrick Bolger b 1851 Ireland , in 1881 he was at 45/53 Church Street , Compton House. His occ a Drapers Buyer. Is this your man ?

Karen x

Hi karen,
Thats one of them I believe,the others were philip,stationer and printer, michael clerk,vincent clerk, and josephine and mary,saleswomen. the whole darn family must have worked there.
Thanks for your help,very much appreciated. I see philip g. has named it and it is still there apparently.

kind regards and thanks again from a very dry new zealand

jabs

Its too dry, I'm in Kumeu on tank water and need rain desparately, good luck with your search

[jabs]

thanks for that shoney.

jabs

[jabs]

Hi again philip g
Great print of the buildings, have printed it out to add to my collection. Once again thanks for your input.
regards jabs

[gorgeous]

Lovely to see this thread coming together . great postcard Phil.

Jabs ,
I have found Philip & Catharine , & their children all the names you stated , & there was also a William Bolger b 1865 he too was a clerk . Anyway in 1881 this family were living at
4 cochrane st. Do you have or need their DOB 's ?

Luv Karen

[jabs]

Hi ged,
thanks for the photo. makes it easy to visualise when you have something to look at.

regards jabs.

[gorgeous]

Jabs ,
Can i ask if your initials are JB ? If NOT there is a fella on another forum who has ALL the names you have listed ,

Luv Karen

Shoney i'm doing a rain dance for you .
xx

[jabs]

Hi karen,
I have the census for 1881 showing them at cochrane st they were in roscommon st in 1861/1871. my g.g grandma was josephine bolger who married a john philip jones who also worked at M&S around 1881 as a grocers assistant;he boarded at 40 conyers st kirkdale. they married in 1882 and moved to bangor from there, where my grandma was born.

[jabs]

Hi karen,
yes my initials are JB. which forum is that out of curiosity, cause it may well be me

john

[gorgeous]

Genes reunited ,
I think it is you lol

[jabs]

hi karen,
yes you are definitley correct there. well spotted.

regards again, john

[shoney]

Jabs ,
Can i ask if your initials are JB ? If NOT there is a fella on another forum who has ALL the names you have listed ,

Luv Karen

Shoney i'm doing a rain dance for you .
xx

thanks luv

[gorgeous]

John , hehe Miss Marpole eat yer heart out . lol


{{{ hug}}} :hug: for Shoney , or better still i'll sprinkle ya with water , Gawd it's raining here again .


John are you all done now ? Theres now way i'm helping ya with yer Jones , lol

Luv Karen xx

[Ged]

Just found my old Wranglers down the back of the linen basket. Washed, ironed and now back in the draw with the rest. Is this also Jeans reunited?

[litherlandlad]

Does anybody know what is happening to the empty shops that are now appearing on Church Street as they move into shiny new pads in the Liverpool One development. Zara has closed and moved as has Gap. Will there be more?

[buggedboy]

As Grosvenor havew signed a legal agreement to find tenants for any vacated premises I wouldnt be too worried in the long term.

Of those I know about...

Gap - Taken by HSBC

Zara - To be taken by Ark

WHSmith - moving to SJS

River Island - Move to WHSmith existing site.

H & M - retain Church st and expand down to take up the soon to be vacated River Island

Jane Norman and the jewellers at the corners of M & S - to be taken up by M & S as part of the expansion.


The only vacated unit cause by Liverpool One that I don't know about is the Disney Store. I'll keep an ear to the ground.

As to the long term fate of Church St, it should be fine.

[Ged]

Well done buggedboy.

[Kev]

great, i was gonna put an idea forward about changing the use of the church street area, maybe putting the buildings into different use, hotels, bars etc

church street could be the next mathew street :PDT10

[lindylou]

Thanks for the info Buggedboy.

[PhilipG]

As Grosvenor havew signed a legal agreement to find tenants for any vacated premises I wouldnt be too worried in the long term.



That's interesting, and something I hadn't heard of before, but I don't understand how it would work.
I know Grosvenor own Liverpool One, but surely businesses are free to come and go as they please without the 'paternal' influence of Grosvenor.

I've been to Warrington recently, and its traditional shopping streets have lots of empty shops because of Golden Square (which itself has lots of empty units).

[jon_hall]

great, i was gonna put an idea forward about changing the use of the church street area, maybe putting the buildings into different use, hotels, bars etc

church street could be the next mathew street :PDT10


You just want more placs to drink :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[Kev]

:PDT_Piratz_26::PDT_Aliboronz_24: <<yep :)

[Sarah]

That's good to hear BuggedBoy as that's all people have been going on about since Liverpool One opened. I was worried Chruch Street would become a ghost town. I heard Rapid would eventually be moving into the old John Lewis building once M&S move back into their refurbished buidling. Is this true as we already have a huge rapid?

I was thinking of possibilites for the old shops on Church Street and even with this new retail development it seems we still won't have a Selfridges or House of Fraiser (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) and I'd really like to see something like that as these will be reasons for people to keep going to other cities to shop. Not that I want to negative as I'm always one who likes to be positive about the regeneration and I love Liverpool One, I'm just saying do you think these stores would be possibilities for the future?

[shoney]

it's all economics, shops will only survive if they have enough people coming thru the doors to pay the lease, wages and make some profit, for the life of me i can't understand how rapid is still alive , there are not many cities in the world where a d.i.y company has a presence in it's downtown area, 20 years ago i used to go into rapid and see people walk out with a few boards of timber and get onto a bus to a suburb where they could buy the same thing cheaper in the local builders merchant.......... maybe thats why they are still alive ?

[PhilipG]

it's all economics, shops will only survive if they have enough people coming thru the doors to pay the lease, wages and make some profit, for the life of me i can't understand how rapid is still alive , there are not many cities in the world where a d.i.y company has a presence in it's downtown area, 20 years ago i used to go into rapid and see people walk out with a few boards of timber and get onto a bus to a suburb where they could buy the same thing cheaper in the local builders merchant.......... maybe thats why they are still alive ?

In years gone by, if you didn't know where to buy something, you'd go to Woolies.
Now Rapid have got that reputation.
Long may they continue. :handclap:
In Renshaw Street, hopefully, because I can't see other shops wanting to move there.
You only have to go round the corner to Berry Street, and see quite a lot of shops that have been empty for years to see the future of Renshaw Street.

[shoney]

I hear they are going to M&S building in church street, renshaw street was always of the beaten track, lewis's was the starting point for a saturday in town, renshaw street was the opposite direction for the rest of the shops market etc, although i rember as a teen there was a good op shop at 81a and as a young man there were 2 tetly pubs next door to each other and only 8 years ago a half decent cafe on the opposite side to lewis's, traffic was a bit mad to trawl both sides of the street so i imagine the natural thing to do is to descend into raneleigh and church st etc..... not been there for a while but it seems to be being more condensed , which may be a good thing..

[PhilipG]

I hear they are going to M&S building in church street,

Rapid are going to George Henry Lee's in 2011 after M&S who will return to Church Street, after it's revamped.

renshaw street was always of the beaten track, lewis's was the starting point for a saturday in town, renshaw street was the opposite direction for the rest of the shops market etc,

That's still pretty much the case.

although i remember as a teen there was a good op shop at 81a

Must check 81a.
It was still open not long ago, but Quiggins are now at Central Hall for the young 'uns.

and as a young man there were 2 tetly pubs next door to each other

They're still doing well, but they're not Tetleys.

and only 8 years ago a half decent cafe on the opposite side to lewis's,

Was that the one in the side of Central Hall where the pensioners went?
That went a few years ago when Central Hall became Barcelona.

traffic was a bit mad to trawl both sides of the street so i imagine the natural thing to do is to descend into raneleigh and church st etc..... not been there for a while but it seems to be being more condensed , which may be a good thing..


Renshaw Street and Berry Street were redesigned as part of the Big Dig. Still two-way and still takes ages for traffic to move.

[andy]

Yes as far as i know Rapid will move to the old John lewis when M&S move back to their re designed store on church street. The old Rapid store is to be sold and will likely be incorporated into the central village scheme. There is more information in this article from may in the daily post:


Frustrated Rapid puts premises up for sale
May 14 2008
by Barry Turnbull
Liverpool Daily Post

THE frustrated boss of city centre store Rapid Hardware last night hit out at developers who have failed to table an offer for the DIY firm’s premises.

Managing director Martin Doherty has become fed up of interested parties simply "sniffing around" and has decided to put the city store on the market.

The company has to sell the red-brick row of knocked-through shops before it can move into John Lewis's store, in Church Street. John Lewis, in turn, is moving into a new building in the soon-to-open Liverpool One shopping scheme.

In the meantime, Rapid’s nearby former paint store, which was sold to Merepark last year, is to form part of a four-star hotel development in neighbouring £160m Central Village scheme.

Mr Doherty said: "We have had discussions with a number of people about various schemes such as a student village.

“Merepark have been sniffing around but haven't come up with a concrete offer so we need to look at our options and will be going to the market shortly."

Merepark bought the paintstore and were thought to be interested in the rest of the site, which is expected to be valued at tens of millions of pounds.

Ian Jones, director of Merepark, said: “I can confirm we are in discussions with Rapid Hardware over its Renshaw Street site. We can not comment further at this stage.”

A city retail property agent said: "It is a big site, so anyone wanting to redevelop would have to weigh up the costs very care- fully. It would be no use knocking down and replacing with similar buildings, for value you would need to build tall."

Rapid's properties extend along Renshaw Street and into Bold Street. The company declined to detail the value of the site.

Yesterday, Merepark and joint venture partner Ballymore submitted plans for extend a Grade II listed building into a four-star hotel. The Watson building, formerly part of Lewis’s on Renshaw Street, and the neighbouring former Rapid Hardware paint shop, were acquired by joint venture vehicle Central Regeneration.

The 70,000 sq ft Watson building will be extended onto the site of the former paint shop to form a 170,000 sq ft, 180 bedroom, four star-plus hotel designed by international architects Woods Bagot.Š An intern- ational hotel operator has already been secured.

The scheme’s approval would secure a further £50m investment for the city centre.

Mr Jones added: “Working closely with our architects, Woods Bagot, we have developed a scheme which responds well to the local surroundings and provides another dynamic link to Central Village.

“Sustainability is at the centre of our vision and we’re confident that this proposal, combined with our plans for the Lewis’s building and Central Village, will result in an exciting mixed-use quarter that brings new purpose and opportunity to the city.”

[Howie]

Fears over exodus to Liverpool One from Church Street
Jun 24 2008
by Michelle Fiddler, Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/dec2007/3/9/0BACBBDB-CF4D-0B37-894630E83FA42514.jpg

BUSINESS leaders have hit back at criticism that big-name stores are deserting Church Street in favour of Liverpool One.

Popular outlets like John Lewis, Zara, Gap, Disney Store and WH Smith have already left their traditional homes in the city centre’s main shopping street and set up in the £1bn development.

It has left prominent shops in the heart of the city centre empty while shoppers have poured into Liverpool One.

Community leaders today voiced fears other shops may follow after it emerged Marks & Spencer is the only firm prevented from leaving Church Street by a legal agreement between developer Grosvenor and Liverpool council.

City centre councillor Nick Small said: “If that agreement only covers Marks & Spencer, it is a much more serious situation.

“There is nothing in place to stop shops moving wholesale to Liverpool One.

“We have got to determine what the situation is, if there are safeguards in place and if they are enough.”

But business leaders said the number of shoppers passing through Church Street to get to Liverpool One would encourage other retailers to move in.

Peter Jones, from Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said: “Church Street will retain Marks & Spencer and Primark, which are both a big draw for shoppers.

“Shoppers have to go through Church Street to get to Liverpool One. There may be empty windows now, but hopefully the increase in footfall will encourage other retailers to move to those premises.

“We hope Liverpool One will mean more business for everyone concerned.”

Rita Waters, chief executive of Liverpool Business Improvement District (Bid), said: “I am aware several vacant units are in the hands of letting agents and are under negotiation with key retailers looking to have a presence in the city.

“There are also some smaller retailers with the opportunity to expand into larger units, which would not necessarily have been available to them in the past.

“Overall, this will improve the offer we have, meaning greater visitor numbers and more money finding its way into the tills.”

A council spokesman said it had worked closely with Grosvenor to manage John Lewis’s move to Liverpool One and find a replacement occupier for the old George Henry Lee’s building

“We are doing a lot of work with Bid and the Chamber of Commerce to manage the transfer of businesses out of Church Street and Lord Street and make sure the units are vacant for as little time as realistically possible.

“For a period of time, it will have an impact on other areas of the city. We are in a period of transition.

“There are a huge number of units coming on stream. Naturally, some of the businesses will want to transfer. We have to ensure the units are re-let as quickly as possible.”

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/06/24/fears-over-exodus-to-liverpool-one-from-church-street-100252-21139370/)

[iain]

It's great to read from buggedboy that Church St isn't going to be completely deserted - I was wondering what would be left with so many of the big names moving "round the corner", especially the large premises like WH Smiths (considering the size of their new place they should have stayed-put). At least the likes of M&S and Primark will continue to bring the crowds in, along with Rapid when they join in.

It's been great to see, though, that 4 weeks on, Church St and Lord St are as busy as ever - busier in fact, more like the run up to Christmas. Even I've been there more often, the whole of the city centre is more pleasant to walk round even if only window-shopping (...cos I'm broke :rolleyes: :unibrow:) now it's all open again.

[RoddersUK]

I could not agree with you more about WHSmiths. Just been in the new one and i could not believe how small it was. The magazine isles are so narrow i almost had to get on my hands and knees to find what i wanted. I'll be giving it a miss during peak times. It will be a nightmare at Christmas.

[John(Zappa)]

Well I seen all the new stuff yesterday. I Didn't like it one bit. Clayton sq was empty. And that W.H's is small. Looking through the magazines was bad enough in the old one (as most of you blokes will know this) when looking at the magazines and someone farted. Now there's no escape!!

[Kev]

BIG NAME businesses will move into city centre shops deserted by the exodus to Liverpool One.

There were fears for the future of Church Street and Lord Street after companies such as John Lewis, Zara, Gap and WH Smith decamped into the £1bn development.

But HSBC, River Island and Marks & Spencer were among those announcing their support for Liverpool’s traditional shopping streets today.

Work has already started on converting empty stores into modern premises for the firms to take over.

HSBC is spending £3m transforming the former Gap, at the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel, into a new branch with 50 members of staff and 10 cash machines for customers.

The bank hopes to complete the work early next year.

A spokesman said: “HSBC is always looking to improve our branches – particularly in Liverpool which is one of our major cities.”

Marks & Spencer is preparing to move into the old George Henry Lee building, left empty when John Lewis moved into one of Liverpool One’s anchor stores.

It will move lock, stock and barrel while its Church Street home is revamped and almost doubled in size.

Workmen will take more than a year to complete the transformation.

A Marks & Spencer spokesman said: “It is the first time we have moved out of a store to refurbish it but it will really speed up the process.

“The building is listed and very complex which is why it will take so long to redevelop.

“We looked at all the options, but our customers would be up in arms if we moved away.

“Marks & Spencer belongs in Church Street. It is an amazing building.”

Meanwhile, River Island will move across Church Street into the former WH Smith store.

Advertising boards say fashion outlets Jack & Jones and Vera Moda will replace Zara at Church Street’s junction with Paradise Street.

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jack Stopforth said: “The fact the former Gap, Zara and WH Smith premises were let so quickly after the tenants relocated to Liverpool One shows Church Street is still an attractive location.

“The redevelopment of Marks & Spencer and the fact the street is home to one of the largest Primark stores will continue to attract shoppers and retain the balance in the city centre.”

Mr Stopforth said the October opening of Liverpool One’s second phase, which includes a walkway through the old HMV premises, will further improve accessibility between the old and new shopping areas.

He added: “Liverpool One has already attracted huge numbers of shoppers and that has got to have a positive spin-off for retailers throughout the city centre.”

vickikellaway@liverpoolecho.co.uk

[Klaatu]

I'm glad...I'd hate to see Church street go to ruin, I've got to many fond memories of it.

[Anni]

Good about the new stores and banks but aren't the others just shuffling around? The old River Island will be empty and when M&S move back GH Lees (John Lewis) will be empty.

[PhilipG]

Good about the new stores and banks but aren't the others just shuffling around? The old River Island will be empty and when M&S move back GH Lees (John Lewis) will be empty.

Rapid will then move to G H Lees.
They've already started a "Relocation Sale", which presumably is going to last anything up to 2 years?

[Ged]

Which is still behind 'Patches' fire sale though which went on for four years.

[ayjaykay]

The old River Island will be empty

Not for long - H&M are extending into it.

[Anni]

Oh good, I like H&M

[skgogosfan]

All change again. Looks like Marks's are staying put and Rapid will move into GHL next year,so says the local rag. Both Rapid and GHL were slightly warren-like so it's a good fit. lol.

Dave.

[Kev]

WORK has started on the multi-million pound revamp of Liverpool?s Marks & Spencer store.

The high street giant, which has traded from the Church Street shop since the 1920s, is adding a fifth more selling space.

It is expanding into the whole of the Compton House building front after taking over existing small ground-floor shops.

The work, which is expected to last until the autumn, will also see the whole of the building first floor become part of M&S, housing a brand-new M&S Caf? and a large furniture section with views over Church Street.

The store will continue to trade while the modernisation programme, which will increase the store?s size from 87,100 sq ft to 104,300 sq ft, takes place.

Store manager Julie Ridley said: ?Our customers in Liverpool have been eagerly awaiting this remodel and we are delighted to be able to announce work has now begun.

?We will take every care to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum while work is carried out and would like to assure customers that it is very much business as usual.

?We look forward to celebrating our relaunch with shoppers this autumn.?

Ms Ridley said the new-look store will offer extended ranges of clothing and homeware and will bring M&S Technology to Liverpool for the first time.

The food hall will feature a new ?hot food to go? counter, selling a range of hot breakfast and lunch options, and the first-floor M&S Caf? will be extended to 150 seats.

Last year, Marks & Spencer axed plans to move into the former George Henry Lee building during the refurbishment of its Church Street store.

Bosses originally said the only way they could manage the massive facelift was to move lock, stock and barrel.

neilhodgson@liverpoolecho.co.uk

[Samp]

I hope they do something about the blank walls down Basnett St and Tarlton St, these streets are like bloody canyons since Marks took over the block.

Lets see some small outlets set into these side walls and give the streets some character.

[Klaatu]

I hope they do something about the blank walls down Basnett St and Tarlton St, these streets are like bloody canyons since Marks took over the block.

Lets see some small outlets set into these side walls and give the streets some character.

Couldn't agree more...well said:PDT11