Randalls of Uxbridge

Randalls of Uxbridge was a family-owned British department store in Vine Street, Uxbridge, which operated for 123 years until it closed in January 2015. The store mainly sold homeware and furniture, but also sold designer menswear.[1]

Randalls of Uxbridge, 2016
Randalls of Uxbridge, 2016
Randalls of Uxbridge, 2008

History

Randalls originated in 1891,[1] and the current store was built in 1937–38 and designed by William Eves (1867–1950). The store was designed in the 1930s style with cream faience.[2] During the Second World War, the store was accused of adverts which were sympathetic towards Nazism.[3] It was used as a location for the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses.[4] In 2008, the building became a Grade II listed building.[5]

In January 2015, the store closed down. At the time of closure only five letters in the store name were illuminated properly on the shop front.[6] The final owner of the store was MP John Randall, the fifth generation of his family to own the store.[7][8] Randall blamed the closure of the shop on a variety of things, including the rise of online shopping, as well as zero-hour contracts.[4]

In October 2015, the building was acquired by Inland Homes, who plan to redevelop the building, using it as a mixed-use development.[8][9]

References
  1. Hounslea, Tara (12 December 2014). "Randalls of Uxbridge to close". Drapers Online. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  2. Cherry, Bridget; Pevsner, Nikolaus (March 1991). London 3: North West. Yale University Press. p. 365. ISBN 0300096526. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  3. "Uxbridge's Randall's store to close after 120 years". BBC News. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  4. Mason, Rowena (30 January 2015). "Politician warns of 'brutal' retail working conditions as he shuts family shop". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. "Randall's Department Store". Historic England. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  6. Farrell, Sean (30 January 2015). "Does good service come at a price?". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  7. Hayes, Alan (11 December 2014). "End of an era as Randall's of Uxbridge closes". Get West London. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  8. Joshi-Wlon, Amita (21 October 2015). "Department store Randall's in Uxbridge sold to property developers". Get West London. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  9. Clementine, Katherine (17 May 2016). "Have your say on the future of iconic Randall's of Uxbridge". Get West London. Retrieved 31 May 2016.

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