Despite high street stores facing ever increasing pressures from online retailers and home delivery services Liverpool remains a prime hub for shopping enthusiasts.
National data shows the city centre - including Bold Street, Church Street, Whitechapel and Lord Street - has fewer empty stores than other areas across the country, while Liverpool ONE bucks the downward retail trend despite a cost of living crisis.
It highlights the city’s ability to evolve to survive. We have certainly lost some of our favourite stores but also gained new ones.
Change is inevitable, but we have taken a nostalgic look back at some of the famous and forgotten Liverpool retail institutions and the traditions of how we used to shop in generations gone by, on Church Street, Lord Street and beyond.
1. An electric tram on Lord Street, central Liverpool, circa 1900. (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
A view of the corner of Whitechapel in 1900.
2. Bon Marche department store
Founded in 1878, Bon Marché was modelled on its famous namesake in Paris and featured French fashions, perfumes and accessories. Pictures here in 1895, it was acquired by John Lewis in 1961. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
3. Jaeger
An early Jaeger fashion outlet stands on the corner of Church Street (far left), circa 1903. (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
4. Hope Bros
Hope Bros stands on the corner of Lord Street and Whitechapel circa 1900. (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)