Posted: Fri 27 Jun, 2014 10:06 pm
I've noticed that many old established places only noticed sadly when they come to close down and a story runs in the YEP or it comes to peoples attention due to the fact they arent going to be there any longer. Can anyone think of any good examples of long established things in Leeds whether they be businesses, buildings, shops, pubs etc that are still going and have been for decades. I guess a lot of pubs have been around a long time so thats quite an easy one, but I'm thinking about things people might have a collective memory of, for example Nash's fish and chip restaurant, or particular traders in Leeds market which have been going for several generations yet are still clinging on despite the rise of the supermarkets / internet etc. I dont know their names but there is a haberdashery stall on the top end of the market and a cobblers / keymaker which seem to have been there forever. I noticed quite recently the stall on 'Game Row' where you could buy woodpigeons and duck eggs which had been there for as long as I can remember finally closed down. I think there used to be a lot more independent traders - especially in the city centre before the rise of all these chain stores which make Leeds city centre barely distinguisable from any other town or city centre in the UK or western world. Sadly now it seems that even in the outlying towns where independent traders and retailers had managed to hang on we are seeing that they are going out of business only to have their shops taken over by charity shops i.e, Headingley / Otley.