13 much-missed shops you'll remember from the streets of Birmingham in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s

They were all once staples of the British high street. These shops were hugely popular during their heyday, attracting customers in their droves during the 80s, 90s and noughties.

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If you grew up then, you almost certainly remember being dragged to these stores as a child, or visiting them yourself as a teenager or young adult.

They include department stores, fashion chains, record shops and supermarkets, all of which were once household names but have disappeared from the high street, Birmingham World reports

This retro photo gallery shows them in Birmingham during those decades:

1. Debenhams 

Debenhams - which was located in Bullring - closed its doors after going into administration in 2021. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Debenhams - which was located in Bullring - closed its doors after going into administration in 2021. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

2. Rackhams

Rackhams was a British department store that opened in Birmingham, England in 1881. It became part of Harrods group in 1955, which later got bought out by House of Fraser in 1959. It was located on Corporation Street. (Photo - CC BY-SA 2.0/Steve Cadman) | CC BY-SA 2.0/Steve Cadman
Rackhams was a British department store that opened in Birmingham, England in 1881. It became part of Harrods group in 1955, which later got bought out by House of Fraser in 1959. It was located on Corporation Street. (Photo - CC BY-SA 2.0/Steve Cadman) | CC BY-SA 2.0/Steve Cadman

3. Woolworths

Woolworths closed down in 2009.
Woolworths closed down in 2009.

4. Paperchase

All Paperchase stores closed earlier this year, across the country, and was taken over by Tesco.
All Paperchase stores closed earlier this year, across the country, and was taken over by Tesco.

5. BHS

A BHS store with closing down signs in the windows after the retailer's collapse
A BHS store with closing down signs in the windows after the retailer's collapse

6. Kardomah Coffee Shop

The Kardomah cafés were a chain of coffee shops in the UK and Paris. In Birmingham, it was near Snow Hill and on New Street. (Photo - Vouliagmeni/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.) | Vouliagmeni/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
The Kardomah cafés were a chain of coffee shops in the UK and Paris. In Birmingham, it was near Snow Hill and on New Street. (Photo - Vouliagmeni/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.) | Vouliagmeni/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

7. John Lewis

Hammerson will be transforming the former John Lewis store in Birmingham’s Grand Central. It closed in 2020 after five years in operation.
Hammerson will be transforming the former John Lewis store in Birmingham’s Grand Central. It closed in 2020 after five years in operation.

8. C&A 

C&A was a European retailer known for uniforms and high street fashion. It was located on Corporation Street. (Photo - Erik1980/ GNU Free Documentation License) | Erik1980/ GNU Free Documentation License
C&A was a European retailer known for uniforms and high street fashion. It was located on Corporation Street. (Photo - Erik1980/ GNU Free Documentation License) | Erik1980/ GNU Free Documentation License

9. Freeman Hardy Willis

It was a major chain of footwear retailers - which was established in 1875. It was on New Street and was destroyed in a bomb blast in 1973. (Photo - Rhydyronen/creative commons) | Rhydyronen/creative commons
It was a major chain of footwear retailers - which was established in 1875. It was on New Street and was destroyed in a bomb blast in 1973. (Photo - Rhydyronen/creative commons) | Rhydyronen/creative commons

10. Lewis's

Lewis’s used to be where The Square Peg is located on Corporation Street. It went into administration in 1991. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps
Lewis’s used to be where The Square Peg is located on Corporation Street. It went into administration in 1991. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps

11. Chelsea Girl (Now River Island) 

A River Island sign
River Island has unveiled a restructuring plan which will see it shut 33 shops (Mike Egerton/PA)

12. Oswald Bailey

Oswald Bailey - a family run business supplying camping and outdoor equipment - has been in operation since 1906. They used to be on Alcester Road, Kings Heath. | Google Maps
Oswald Bailey - a family run business supplying camping and outdoor equipment - has been in operation since 1906. They used to be on Alcester Road, Kings Heath. | Google Maps

13. Richard Shops

Richard Shops was a British high street retailer of women’s fashion. It was sold to Sears Plc and then the Arcadia group.(Photo - CC BY-SA) | CC BY-SA
Richard Shops was a British high street retailer of women’s fashion. It was sold to Sears Plc and then the Arcadia group.(Photo - CC BY-SA) | CC BY-SA