Before online shopping took off, UK city centers were full of busy shops and there was hardly an empty shop window to be seen.
In the days of the high street, department stores such as Marks and Spencer had their heyday, but as the way we shop has changed, many of our once-loved big retail names have disappeared from shopping centers such as Debenhams which is now online after being bought out by Boohoo .
Other names that bring back fond memories but no longer exist on our high street are Etam/Tammy Girl, Topshop and C&A.
We have also welcomed new names to the high street in recent decades as fast food chains of North American origin made their way across the Atlantic to our shores, such as: For example, the Mexican-inspired Taco Bell restaurant.
There are also many well-known retailers that have taken other forms after being bought out by other companies, such as Argos, which was taken over by supermarket giant Sainsbury’s.
Burger King used to be all about color blocking and geometric shapes in the decor, with wooden benches at the booths and wood paneling, as seen in the photo of an abandoned restaurant on the left. These days, the fast food chain is a little more high-tech, with over-the-counter screens displaying the menu, shiny signs and pristine white floors. But as can be seen in this modern shop, the wooden panels remain part of the decor
But what about the stores that have stood the test of time? And how did the British high street develop under the influence of American and European shops and restaurants?
Meanwhile, more global chains such as McDonald’s and Burger King have expanded greatly in the UK, opening thousands of outlets across the country.
Here, FEMAIL looks at some of today’s most popular shopping centres, supermarkets and restaurants to see how they have fared over the decades compared to today…
Argos was once known for its large catalogue, used to hold back doors and side tables, which children would happily browse through for birthdays and Christmas. Today Argos stores look very different and are filled with interactive screens for customers to place their orders (Luton store right, pictured). And it’s rare to see an Argos branch alone, as many have been taken over by Sainsbury’s
Taco Bell is a Mexican-inspired fast food chain that only came to the UK in 2010, but was already well established in the US and Canada by the 1990s, equipped with stand-alone meals and decorated with pastel geometric shapes. Today, the style is more minimalist, with hanging lamps and tall tables and chairs. The menu screens are now automated and there are murals on the walls
Popular Swedish furniture retailer Ikea first came to the UK in 1987 and quickly became one of the country’s most popular home shopping destinations. A store, pictured in the 1990s, shows a clerk scanning items while wearing a vintage uniform. Today, Ikea has not changed that much and is still a popular place for people to furnish their homes with flat-pack furniture and easy instructions, with warehouses behind the stores where customers can collect their purchases.
By 2000, the popular department store Marks and Spencer was more commonly known as St. Michael’s, although affectionately known as Marks and Sparks. This store was impeccably maintained (much like M&S looks today).
An old McDonald’s in the 1990s featured furniture in the style of its products, such as these cheeseburger-themed stools at the tables, which have dull eyes (left). Today, McDonald’s stores are a little simpler in terms of decor with a functional, clean design, including dark floor tiles. Unlike the fast food chains of years past, McDonald’s locations are now equipped with touchscreen ordering stations where you can place your order and pay and wait in line
Sainsbury’s was packed with favorite brands in the 1990s that many people would recognize today. This store (left), which was photographed in January, showed off its post-Christmas offerings of festive treats including Quality Street and Roses chocolates. The photo shows a family with a shopping trolley full of goodies, while the eldest daughter holds a popular brand of chips from the 1990s, Golden Wonders. Today, Sainsbury’s stores don’t look much different, and even have similarly designed linoleum floors, but like many chains they are equipped with self-service checkouts, which certainly didn’t exist in the 90s.
Waitrose has always been known as one of the more upscale high street supermarkets and as the photo on the left indicates, it even helped customers pack their bags. The background of the photo taken at the checkout shows the specialty aisles of the supermarket, including the fruit and vegetable section. Today’s Waitrose still has unusual counters, as can be seen in the background of the photo on the right, taken in Brighton in 2015, where the bakery department is located
Like Sainsbury’s, Tesco has retained its stained floors from the 1990s to the present day. A photo of the supermarket in 1999 (left) shows a worker in a red and white checkered uniform pushing goods through the supermarket. On the right is the same floor as a face covering customer walks through the store in a sign of the times, and as the holiday season approaches the store is filled with special offers and club card prices
Founded in Brighton in 1976, The Body Shop was a popular high street cosmetics chain. In recent years the store has been rebranded with a new typeface, although it has retained its circular logo (Regent Street store pictured right). Today, the store also opts for more neutral colors in its decor, compared to the 2000s when stores were painted bright orange and green (left).
The popular Chelsea Girl brand, which started in 1948, has remained a popular women’s clothing store for decades. However, consumers now know the store as River Island, which caters to women, men and children. The store was rebranded in 1988, but over the years River Island has designed and sold clothing ranges under the Chelsea Girl name
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
