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the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:01:45
Family get together at the weekend and was discussing the Arndale centre.
Can anyone remember what shop (think it was a supermarket type) was oposite the two indoor entrances to the market. So to your left if you enetered from Church street.
Talking late 70's early 80's?
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Memories on 11/3/2024, 12:35:54, in reply to "the Arndale"
Think it went Sainsbury's > Wilko's > Some random clothes store.
Then Sainsbury's moved to its big plot in bury park and Wilko eventually moved to the old C&A.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by The Cruiser on 11/3/2024, 12:31:19, in reply to "the Arndale"
There was a supermarket type establishment called (I think) International Store opposite one of the entrances to the indoor market.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 15:15:48, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
The International :
Re: the Arndale
Posted by The Cruiser on 11/3/2024, 12:35:51, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Yes, I've just Googled it. It was in Waller Street and was called International Supermarket. I wondered why I had the escalator at the shop fixed in my mind. It was the first one in Luton apparently
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 13:49:05, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
The International supermarket was in Waller Street originally. They had a cafeteria upstairs, and a record department that sold ex-jukebox records at cut price. Then it got flattened by the Arndale.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Jack's back on 11/3/2024, 13:52:09, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Didn't it also have a spell at west side opposite sainsburys ?
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 13:58:01, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Yes I think so, or it might have been Tesco's
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Jack's back on 11/3/2024, 14:06:56, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
It was tescos yes ..but not always ...International use to pile tins high etc if I remember right with sort of promotions in bright cardboard stars I think in windows ..
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 14:10:03, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Re: the Arndale
Posted by KS on 11/3/2024, 13:10:03, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
It was indeed first escalator in Luton and a top drawer attraction for young kids when it opened.
Who needs smartphones
Re: the Arndale
Posted by since 63 on 11/3/2024, 16:07:51, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
i was that kid!
Re: the Arndale
Posted by sloopy on 11/3/2024, 12:25:20, in reply to "the Arndale"
There was a Tesco which had an upstairs, a Sainsburys and I believe another supermarket which was not one of the main supermarket chains. We lived in Luton 1976 to 1979 so the memory is trying to work overtime. I also remember The Coop which I think is where the big Weatherspoons is. They had a smaller supermarket but a big department store where you could buy all sorts of things. If you got there at 17.20 all the staff were ready to leave almost on starting blocks. I will try to remember that other supermarket
Re: the Arndale
Posted by m on 11/3/2024, 13:58:33, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
always remember they had a set of stairs and fish tanks in the wall as you went up them
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:26:39, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
The Co-op was a stunning building, seem to remember it having a big curved staircase (but could be wrong).
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Ches Fordroad on 11/3/2024, 14:24:16, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Given their penchant for developing properties it's a shame that building was demolished as I reckon Wetherspoons would've made a decent job of preserving it
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Jansel House on 11/3/2024, 13:38:48, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
It was massive wasn’t it, those stairs were huge. Santa’s grotto was fun, good memories 👍
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Sepp Hatter on 11/3/2024, 12:53:19, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
It also had one of those vacuum tube systems for handling payments.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Buzzard on 11/3/2024, 12:38:06, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
yes it did.
the toy shop upstairs was just superb.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by James on 11/3/2024, 13:22:36, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Every Saturday I spent hours on the toy shop ehovh allsorts of working displays.Wonderful dhop
Re: the Arndale
Posted by pingu on 11/3/2024, 12:28:42, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
would go and see father christmas in there.
legendary memories.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Charles mare on 11/3/2024, 14:21:50, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Always remember The fire at the top rank mill st for some reason ...it still haunts me for some reason ..think it was maybe because my nan was a cleaner in there .
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 14:09:32, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Great memories! Their shoe department had an X-ray machine so your mum could check your feet bones weren't being squashed.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by KS on 11/3/2024, 12:12:08, in reply to "the Arndale"
I don't recall wilko being anywhere other than where it is now at the st georges Square end.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by KS on 11/3/2024, 12:03:51, in reply to "the Arndale"
Sainsburys
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:07:18, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
did think it was but others disagreed, cheers for that.
Then did it change to Wilko?
Re: the Arndale
Posted by KS on 11/3/2024, 12:12:40, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
As above
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:13:41, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Also my first ever job was shelf stacking at the Tesco's there.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by pingu on 11/3/2024, 12:10:02, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
yeah think it did brother.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:11:32, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
came about as Mum used to work in Robby's Tea shop, which I believe is still there (opposite the Golden Egg) - not been in the arndale for about 15 years.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Old timer on 11/3/2024, 14:14:06, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
It is ...the lutonian was nearby but that was like a place for your more common punter ..wheras Robbie was more sophisticated .
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 14:11:57, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Lovely cafe, Robby's
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Old timer on 11/3/2024, 14:17:25, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
It is ...get your own tea pot ...it hasn't been decorated it seems for 50 years you can smell the past with all the pictures on wall ..always a large joint of ham in the fridge and itvwas a big choice if you wanted salad cream in your French stick lol
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Jansel House on 11/3/2024, 12:18:24, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Robby’s was a lunch sensation- their French stick / rolls with ham salad were delicious, me & my wife still talk about that being the best, you can’t get better in Luton.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:25:06, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Other memorys included: Don Millars - and the smell of Doughnuts when you walked by. A tiny sports shop in the corner of one of the inner squares, that always sold decent trainers. C & A - hated being dragged round there by my mum The sweet shop and Joke stall in the market - all my pocket money got spent there,
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Jansel House on 11/3/2024, 12:56:29, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
😆 yep, take the stink bombs to just by the McDonalds door & watch the magic happen 👍
I was also a fan of the odd Pepe keyring from Mister Byrites or GB’s
Bernard World of Sports, Laskys & Technosound, it had some brilliant small businesses.
C&A, shoot me 🤮
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Buzzard on 11/3/2024, 12:36:47, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Pete's Sports
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 14:13:16, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
My nephew used to work there on Saturdays.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:20:37, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
French Sticks were top class there - always grated cheese and ham for me, followed by an iced bun.
To think that Robby's is still going these days with all the fast food outlets is a great thing.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Jansel House on 11/3/2024, 12:43:54, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
That’s very true. A testament to fresh ingredients, good pricing & service, it’s great to hear it’s still going.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by pingu on 11/3/2024, 12:14:49, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
mate pretty much the same. hope all is well🧡.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Since 57 on 11/3/2024, 12:37:20, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
When I worked in The Arndale Robbies was my favourite. That was around 1975
Re: the Arndale
Posted by m on 11/3/2024, 14:31:19, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
My Dad worked in Blundells. Started off as a junior tailor. Helped make the 1959 cup final teams suits. worked his way up and was a director in the 70s before Debenhams took over and made him redundant,many happy memories as a small kid of the store. They had a restuarant area and I can recall they did Ice creams covered in chocolate !! And the toy area with all the subbeteo teams and extras.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nev the bear on 11/3/2024, 12:42:51, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Sainsbury used to be in George St was impressive all marble counters and loads of staff serving
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:40:19, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
I'm guessing it has been there since the Arndale opened in 1972 - that's 52 years its been there. Wonder if it existed before the Arndale elsewhere in Luton and then moved in when it opened?
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:50:42, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Wonder if there are any other independent shops / outlets that are still going anywhere in Luton, that have been around for 50 years or more? I suppose a few local corner shops maybe, that have passed down a generation, but as I don't live in Luton anymore, I wouldn't know of any.
Anyone name any??
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Old timer on 11/3/2024, 13:20:50, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Shanks and turners ...
Re: the Arndale
Posted by robin on 11/3/2024, 12:55:37, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
There is the fish & chip shop up Westway (stopsley), thats still there but not sure when it first appeared, I'm guessing early 80's
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Since 57 on 11/3/2024, 12:46:08, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
I used to go to Rudd’s in Chapel Street before Robbies. Rudd’s sausage rolls the best ever!!!!
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Hawkesworth on 11/3/2024, 12:56:01, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
What was the name of the deli/bakers type shop on Chapel street, just down from the old Bank of Ireland? Can still smell the bread and cooked meats now.
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Old timer on 11/3/2024, 15:02:39, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
Oakleys
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Since 57 on 11/3/2024, 15:39:42, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
👍
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Bicester Hat on 11/3/2024, 16:38:05, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
The Greenshield Stamp “shop” near Shanks and Turners. Was there a Lyon’s Tea Shop or did I imagine that?
Re: the Arndale
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 11/3/2024, 17:29:29, in reply to "Re: the Arndale"
There was a Lyons near Woolies and James Walker jewellers.
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