[Biggs]

Two names I associate with Plymouth shopping possibly more than any other... Lawsons homeware store gone after 116 years, and the Dingles restaurant in House of Fraser (only reminder of the old Dingles name) closed too.

Getting very concerned indeed about the impact on Plymouth shops and businesses now, and Theatre Royal seriously struggling and setting up an emergency fund too https://theatreroyal.com/emergencyappeal/

Sad to hear about the Plymouth Lawsons site closing: I had my first Saturday job there back in the 80's up in the hardware section there.

Blame it on the internet. Never has "use it or lose it "been more appropriate.

The demise of large general retailers is inevitable. They have only three things to sell, product choice, price and convenience. The internet now offers a wider choice at lower prices and greater convenience.

I think It would good to return to the early 19th century model for towns and cities of fewer, more specialist shops, and more housing, theatres, concert venues etc which I think would return life to the centres. That would be good for the many towns which are dying on their feet with boarded up shops and no incentive to visit.

[Biggs]

Agreed. British cities are ghost towns after 6pm because they’re devoted to retail. It makes total sense for more people to live in an area where there is public transport, leisure and dining, entertainment, sport. Stops people having to drive so much, and stops urban sprawl a bit more too.

The Lawsons owner said that Ivybridge and Totnes stores were doing ok because of local footfall whereas fewer people were coming into Plymouth because of lack of public transport... which illustrates that not enough people are living in the city centre.

There always seem to be plenty of room above the shops.
Could this be used for residential use?

My godfather was a manager at Millbay Laundry and lived in a very nice flat that was above their store in Plymstock at teh Broadway i think it was called, that was over 40 years ago.

There always seem to be plenty of room above the shops.
Could this be used for residential use?

Spot on Old Age. Before retiring my wife worked for a retail audit company, and she was regularly surprised at the waste of accommodation directly above shops, most of which was housing 50+ years ago.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LnHUkzWdYf4

I have long said that our city centre needs to have something like the link built to attract people into the city. It is far from the biggest mall out there but it holds it's own because of its novelty factor and persons going just to see it. Lots of restaurants and eateries within it including costas.

[Argylegames]

Sad about Lawsons.

As a kid I loved the railway layouts and the large toy displays leading up to Christmas.

Long ago and far away happy memories.

I still remember one year they had a car racing track inside a railway layout. There was a siding on the railway which delivered the racing cars to the track. Obviously much more than my parents could afford but I could have spent hours in the shop just watching it.