A small tribute to the Woolworth's in Reading Berkshire, one of the last 200 Woolworth's stores to close. Reading had a Woolworth's from the very early days of the chain, the original store was bombed in the war, and reopened in the location it was until it closed. In the mid 1980's the Reading branch was selected as a trial store format "The Woolworth Mall" with a yellow and grey squared logo! Had this format of been sucessful further stores around the country would have adopted this style. In 1992 Reading lost it's Woolworths store, with neighbouring towns such as Newbury, Bracknell and Wokingham retaining their store. The magnificent white stone 1930's Art-Deco entrance in Broad Street remained empty for a couple of years until it was demolished in the mid 90's. In 1996 the store was re-opened as it is now, no longer a throughfare to Friar Street and West Street (about half the size of the old store) and no longer stocked the expanded range of the Woolworth Mall days that preceeded it. In 2007 the Cafe was closed (cheap all day breakfasts were far and few between in Reading after!) In 2008 the store hosted appearances and signing sessions with McFly and Sir Cliff Richard, fans travelled many miles to see them. The store was closed for the second (and final time) on 6th January 2009.
If the Store Manager who told me of for filming watches this, I apologise it must have been a terrible day, however the store does deserve a tribute on Youtube like many other Woolworth's stores that have closed recently.
