The long, industrious history of St Helens is well known and well documented.
With such a rich history, people are bound to have fond memories of days gone by. The glass-making town has had more than its fair share of iconic shops and businesses over the years.
However, whether it is due to personal circumstances, or changing habits among shoppers, many of these beloved businesses are no longer around. The ECHO took a look into some of the legendary St Helens businesses that we've loved and lost over the years.
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Helena House
One popular suggestion among ECHO readers was Helena House, a huge redbrick building once located on Baldwin Street in the town centre. The department store boasted an array of shops, a café and a Santa's grotto and more - and is still fondly remembered by residents across the borough.
Unfortunately, the iconic co-op owned building was levelled in the late 1980s, but this hasn't stopped many reminiscing on days spent at Helena House. Debra Gent said: "Helena House, loved that place especially the Xmas grotto and Mum always took us to the café for tea and toast, such happy memories."
Jennifer Wheeler said: "Tyrer's, Woolworths, Helena house, Lennon's."
Lennon's
Frank Lennon established Lennon's as a grocer around 1915 when he opened a small shop in Park Road in Parr. Later his sons Terence and Dennis inherited the firm and in 1958 the brothers opened their first supermarket.
The superstore on Ormskirk Street in the town centre would become a favourite for decades, allowing customers to do their weekly shop under one roof, rather than trek around. Chris Whitfield said: "I remember the weird trolley lift!"
By the 1980s, Lennon's opened one of its largest stores in Wavertree and announced plans to expand further with more branches farther north and in Wales. On August 19, 1981, the ECHO reported: "The new store, near to the famous landmark, Picton Clock Tower, is filling a long-felt need, according to local residents."
From the 1980s onwards, Lennon's began disappearing from our high streets, along with the Ormskirk Street store in St Helens, which now stands as different shops.
Woolworths
Once one of the biggest retailers in the country, Woolworths pulled in customers from all over with their vast array of goods on offer. It was a place where you could buy a TV and a pick and mix under the same roof.
Loyal customers and staff alike were left devastated when the company went bust in late 2008, resulting in the closure of all 807 Woolworths stores in the UK.
One of those stores, in Earlestown, had been open since 1957, and was one of the town's favourite spots for decades until its closure 13 years ago.
Tyrer's
In 2016, fourth-generation manager Ali Tyrer made the ‘heartbreaking’ decision to shut the iconic St Helens department store Tyrers because the 128-year-old store was struggling to compete.
The five-floor shop, specialising in high quality men’s and women’s clothing, had begun more humbly in Ali's great-grandfather’s house.
William Tynsley Tyrer started out with a box of bootsand a £50 loan from a friend in 1888, when Queen Victoria was on the throne.
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