Abandoned Stores

[WillPS]

Resurrecting this thread in light of the discussion on the former Tesco in Dundee. Here's a similar example in Chesterfield.

Can anybody else share any abandoned supermarket locations?

Also, does anybody know whether the fact the properties are marked as 'for sale' is a bit of a front; or rather, are they willing to sell stores to their competitors? The example in Chesterfield I'm sure would make for a fine Waitrose or similar.

I know there's a thing in the states where Walmart readily moves stores (often for tax avoidance reasons), sometimes by as little as a few hundred yards, and then makes no real effort to sell the old one.

[stu]

A rather forlorn Kwik Save - looks even worse these days.

http://goo.gl/maps/QDdm2

[rdobbie]

This awful eyesore on an industrial estate near Chester used to be a Leo's (part of Co-op) and was then sold to Morrisons who traded there for a few years before getting rid of it as one of the government's conditions of the Safeway acquisition. It then reopened as a Co-op (see this forlorn relic) and traded for just one more year before closing down.

It's the only case I'm aware of where Morrisons (pre the Safeway acquisition) moved into a former supermarket building; I thought all their stores were custom built. Unusually, Morrisons made no attempts to refit the store to their trademark layout - they kept it like a utilitarian cash and carry warehouse, without any salad bar, deli counters or instore bakery.

EDIT: I just found out it's now become a Go Outdoors since that Streetview was taken.

[Pete]

http://goo.gl/maps/XaDkO

Just around the corner from the Tesco that started this whole conversation is this. It's an old Food Giant (one of the many forerunners of Somerfield) that stood empty for about 20 years before the council finally snapped, bought the place and the equally useless "shopping centre" attached and have knocked it down. It's currently a pile of rubble.

[WillPS]

This awful eyesore on an industrial estate near Chester used to be a Leo's (part of Co-op) and was then sold to Morrisons who traded there for a few years before getting rid of it as one of the government's conditions of the Safeway acquisition. It then reopened as a Co-op (see this forlorn relic) and traded for just one more year before closing down.

It's the only case I'm aware of where Morrisons (pre the Safeway acquisition) moved into a former supermarket building; I thought all their stores were custom built. Unusually, Morrisons made no attempts to refit the store to their trademark layout - they kept it like a utilitarian cash and carry warehouse, without any salad bar, deli counters or instore bakery.

EDIT: I just found out it's now become a Go Outdoors since that Streetview was taken.

That was my impression too - how odd. You can even see a vintage Co-op 'clover' logo on the petrol station's canopy - which I presume was covered over with newer signage until the store's demise.

My only thought is that it could have been a pilot for a potential programme of Morrisons taking over a portfolio of that society's supermarkets (looks like United to me, and they were indeed looking to dispose of their larger stores towards the end of their life). Obviously this would have been an abortive attempt!

Do you know roughly when the changes occurred, and whether it was a straight forward transition?

Perhaps SirKen knows something on the matter...

http://goo.gl/maps/XaDkO

Just around the corner from the Tesco that started this whole conversation is this. It's an old Food Giant (one of the many forerunners of Somerfield) that stood empty for about 20 years before the council finally snapped, bought the place and the equally useless "shopping centre" attached and have knocked it down. It's currently a pile of rubble.

Oh, Food Giant. We had one of those in the Bulwell area of Nottingham - http://goo.gl/maps/AvBz1 - you can clearly see the outline of the zig-zag logo on there. The newer signage relates to its latter days under the Kwik Save fascia. I think it closed around the time when Somerfield sold one half of Kwik Save and rebranded the rest under the main fascia.

Since been flattened in favour of another Tesco Extra.

[Alexia]

EDIT: I just found out it's now become a Go Outdoors since that Streetview was taken.

Indeed. Go past it at least 6 times a week!

[rdobbie]

My only thought is that it could have been a pilot for a potential programme of Morrisons taking over a portfolio of that society's supermarkets (looks like United to me, and they were indeed looking to dispose of their larger stores towards the end of their life). Obviously this would have been an abortive attempt!

Do you know roughly when the changes occurred, and whether it was a straight forward transition?

Yes, there must have been some kind of ulterior motive or experimentation on Morrisons' part. I remember that Morrisons did virtually nothing to rebrand it apart from slapping a big sign on the front and putting their own goods on the shelves.

I think it changed from Leo's to Morrisons in 2001/02. The restrictions attached to the Safeway acquisition in 2004 made it a no-brainer for Morrisons to jettison the store in favour of keeping the Safeway store on the other side of Chester (Upton), as the latter was infinitely more prestigious and had just undergone a major expansion and refit by Safeway. (Incidentally it became the first Safeway in the UK to be refitted as a Morrisons).

I don't know whether the original restrictions by the Competition Commission have since been relaxed, as Morrisons last year built a brand new shiny store just round the corner from the old Leo's, which you can see in the background (now Go Outdoors).

[westy 2]

The ex Somerfield store in Willenhall, West Midlands, closed for about a year, has now reopened as a 99p Store.

[Whataday]

That BHS is a disgrace. They have barely touched it since the 1990s. Worse still, because the company has a long-term lease on that corner of the Manchester Arndale, they've thwarted all efforts to do up that part of the building, even though the rest of the centre has been rebuilt, redeveloped and/or reclad since the bomb.

There are a lot of BHSs in dire need of a revamp. It's made worse by the introduction of a new logo when virtually none of their stores have new signage. Also the rather baffling separate British HOME Stores brand doesnt help matters. (it's a bit TVS Television but I'd say BHS Home wouldve been a far clearer brand extension).

A strange situation happening in Cardiff shortly. BHS which has occupied an old unit on Queen Street for many years is swapping with Primark which is currently in a more modern but smaller site opposite. BHS will close after Christmas, and the old Primark will remain open while theyre fitting out their new store. When the new Primark opens, BHS will move into the old one. Presumably a rare opportunity to see a brand new, totally up to date BHS!

[Whataday]

That BHS is a disgrace. They have barely touched it since the 1990s. Worse still, because the company has a long-term lease on that corner of the Manchester Arndale, they've thwarted all efforts to do up that part of the building, even though the rest of the centre has been rebuilt, redeveloped and/or reclad since the bomb.

There are a lot of BHSs in dire need of a revamp. It's made worse by the introduction of a new logo when virtually none of their stores have new signage. Also the rather baffling separate British HOME Stores brand doesnt help matters. (it's a bit TVS Television but I'd say BHS Home wouldve been a far clearer brand extension).

A strange situation happening in Cardiff shortly. BHS which has occupied an old unit on Queen Street for many years is swapping with Primark which is currently in a more modern but smaller site opposite. BHS will close after Christmas, and the old Primark will remain open while theyre fitting out their new store. When the new Primark opens, BHS will move into the old one. Presumably a rare opportunity to see a brand new, totally up to date BHS!

[WillPS]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39611466@N ... 436640340/

Of all the weird retail experiences I've had, this one was certainly up there. A former BK/Little Chef outlet, now just trading as BK (with the Little Chef kitchen behind a false wall) but still being run by Little Chef, with the dining room still with all Little Chef's fittings, paintwork and beyond threadbare carpet. There was even a staff award type thing on show with Little Chef's most recent branding.