Lewis's facts for kids
 |
|
| Department store | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Fate | Lease unable to be renewed, brand name bought, grotto re-opened |
| Successor | Lewis's Home Retail |
| Founded | Liverpool, 1856 |
| Founder | David Lewis |
| Defunct | 29 May 2010 |
| Headquarters |
Liverpool
,
England
|
|
Key people
|
David Thompson Sir Philip Green David Lewis Louis Cohen Rex Cohen Lord Woolton |
| Parent | Vergo Retail |
Lewis's was a famous chain of department stores in Britain. It operated for a long time, from 1856 until 2010. Over the years, the company faced financial challenges many times.
The very first Lewis's store opened in Liverpool. It became the main and most important store of the chain. In 1991, another company called Owen Owen bought several Lewis's stores. They kept the Lewis's name for a few years. After the Manchester store closed in 2002, only the original Liverpool store remained. This last store was sold in 2007 to Vergo Retail Ltd and finally closed its doors in 2010.
Contents
History of Lewis's Stores
The first Lewis's store opened in Liverpool in 1856. It was started by a smart businessman named David Lewis. At first, it sold clothes for men and boys, many of which Lewis made himself.
In 1864, Lewis's started selling clothes for women too. The store grew bigger in the 1870s. It added new sections, like shoes in 1874 and tobacco in 1879. Also in 1879, Lewis's opened one of the world's first 'Christmas grottoes' in Liverpool. It was called 'Christmas Fairyland'. David Lewis wanted everyone to feel welcome when they shopped. His motto was Friends of the People.
Growing Across Britain
The first Lewis's store outside Liverpool opened in nearby Manchester in 1877. Another store opened in Birmingham in 1885. The Manchester store even had a large ballroom on its fifth floor. This space was also used for special exhibitions.
A fourth store opened in Sheffield in 1884, but it didn't make enough money and closed in 1888.
After David Lewis passed away, Louis Cohen took over the business. He helped the company become stronger. Later, Harold and Rex Cohen took control and made the company public in 1924. This meant people could buy shares in the company.
New Lewis's stores then opened in other big cities. These included Glasgow (1929), Leeds (1932), Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent (1934), and Leicester (1936). Lewis's stores were usually among the biggest department stores in their areas.
In 1938, Lewis's took over the Royal Welsh Warehouse. This company was famous for starting large-scale mail order shopping.
New Owners and Brands
In 1951, the Lewis's group bought the famous London department store Selfridges. In 1965, Lewis's became part of the Sears Group. In 1966, they launched Miss Selfridge fashions. This became a popular clothing store chain on its own.
A Lewis's branch opened in Blackpool in 1964. It was right next to Blackpool Tower. This building had a unique design from the 1960s with turquoise tiles. It closed in 1993.
The company's Manchester store was one of several places attacked on 27 January 1975.
The Famous Christmas Grotto
The world's first Christmas grotto opened at Lewis's in 1879. It was called 'Christmas Fairyland'. This grotto became a much-loved part of Liverpool's Christmas season. Many generations of children visited Father Christmas there. The last displays covered a huge area of over 10,000 square feet (930 m2).
After the Liverpool store closed in 2010, the Lewis's Christmas Grotto team moved. They reopened the grotto on the fourth floor of Rapid Hardware. This was in the building that used to be George Henry Lee (which became John Lewis).
Challenges and Closures
Lewis's faced financial problems in 1991. This was due to a difficult economy and not being able to compete well. Because of this, a rival company from Liverpool, Owen Owen, bought several Lewis's branches. However, they kept the Lewis's name for those stores.
Sir Philip Green helped bring back toy sales in a big way. He launched a brand called Kids HQ in four Lewis's Owen Owen stores, including Liverpool and Manchester. The Leicester branch tried to operate on its own for a while, but it eventually closed. Other branches, like the Birmingham store, also closed down.
After a major incident in Manchester in 1996, Lewis's rented out some of its space. This helped Marks & Spencer and other smaller shops that had been damaged. When these shops moved to new places in 1999, Lewis's had fewer shoppers. The store tried to become a 'discount retailer' to attract more people. In 2002, the Manchester branch closed. A Primark store is now in that building.
The very last store to trade as Lewis's was the original one in Liverpool. Other Lewis's branches had been sold to companies like Debenhams and Allders in the 1990s.
On 28 February 2007, the Liverpool store faced more financial difficulties. On 23 March 2007, it was sold to Vergo Retail Ltd. This allowed the store to keep trading as Lewis's. However, the store finally closed for good on 29 May 2010. This was because its lease could not be renewed. Until it closed, the building still had its original lifts, which were operated by a lift attendant.
Lewis's Rebirth
After Vergo Retail faced financial problems in 2010, the rights to the Lewis's name were bought by Lewis's Home Retail Ltd. This new company planned to open a home store in Bury. They have also bought six branches of TJ Hughes, including the Liverpool branch that was once the first Owen Owen store. They also have a website.
In 2014, Lewis's Home Retail bought seven Paul Simon Homeware stores. They reopened them under the Lewis's brand. They also started selling TJ Hughes 'Lewis's' branded homeware items. These items are tagged 'Established 1856', remembering the historic store. Lewis's Home Retail Limited also owns other related brand names, like 'Kids HQ' and 'Owen Owen'.
Former Lewis's Stores
- Liverpool (1856–2010) – now part of a development with a gym and hotel.
- Manchester (1877–2002) – now Primark.
- Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent (1934–1998) – Debenhams since 1998.
- Leeds (1932–1996) – became an Allders, now offices and shops.
- Oxford (1989–1996) – later Primark, now smaller shops.
- Blackpool (1964–1993) – became Mecca Bingo and Woolworths.
- Bristol (1958–1981) – later Primark.
- Birmingham (1885–1991) – now offices, shops, and restaurants.
- London (Selfridges)
- Newcastle upon Tyne (1985–87) – now JD Sports.
- Glasgow (1929–1990s) – now Debenhams.
- Leicester (1936–1993) – demolished, but a tower remains.
- Sheffield (1884–1888)
- Preston (1980s-1990s)
- Lakeside Shopping Centre (1989-1991)
- Weston Favell (Supa-Centre) (1975–1985)
- Ellesmere Port (Supa-Centre)
Current Lewis's Stores
These are new stores owned by Lewis's Home Retail Limited. They used to be Paul Simon stores and are now Lewis's.
- Chelmsford
- Colindale
- Harlow
Lewis's Bank
From 1928, Lewis's stores had a special department for banking. It became its own company in 1934. It was owned by Martins Bank for a while, and then by Lloyds Bank from 1967. It continued to operate into the 1980s, allowing shoppers to do their banking right in the department store.
