Imposing over Old Market Square in one of Nottingham's most famous retail premises, businesses have been located where Debenhams is currently based for the last 180 years.
But that could all soon change with Debenhams now facing closures after announcing rescue talks with JD Sports had failed with the faltering department store, putting 12,000 jobs at risk.
Mike Ashley's Fraser Group - which owns Sports Direct - had expressed an interest in a rescue bid for the department chain, but Debenhams has still launched a closing down sale which has put the future of some of its shops in doubt.
Since 1973, Nottingham had a large store in the building on Long Row and Market Street which was formerly a department store named Griffin and Spalding.
Nottinghamshire Live has compiled a history of that building in anticipation of how the site may change in the months to come.
Brothers Robert and Edward Dickinson were first to utilise the space with a much smaller building that sold linen and drapery known as Dickinsons from as early as the 1840s.
Long Row, facing Nottingham's Market Square, was the obvious choice for where to set up shop and 20 years later a larger store was built.
By the 1860s, Nottingham was being expanded and Market Street was constructed which placed Dickinsons in a prime location on the market's thoroughfare.
It was then that the Dickinson brothers had been joined in their enterprise by Edward Fazackerley who quickly spotted the potential and suggested they replace the smaller store with a larger building which would dominate its surroundings.
1878 saw the arrival of two traders from London in Nottingham - Mr W Griffin and Mr J T Spalding.
Both Dickinson brothers had died by this time and Griffin and Spalding were quick to snap up their shares and changed the store name to Fazackerley, Griffin and Spalding. Fazackerley's name was dropped once he died in the late 1870s too and the store soon became known as G&S - Nottingham's premier department store.
The success of the store prompted neighbouring properties to be snapped up and Market Place began to take shape.
G&S had a mantra for its staff:
"We remember that the courteous attitude is one of friendliness coupled with dignity
We remember to be alert and accurate
We ask if we can be helpful when a patron appears to be confused or to be having difficulty with packages
We give directions graciously, and whenever possible escort the patron at least part of the way to the department she wishes to visit
We never appear impatient
We bear in mind that a well-modulated, friendly voice creates a pleasant atmosphere
We remember that each of us , when talking to a patron, is the single representative of the store ... that Griffin and Spalding’s reputation is in our hands
We say ‘We ...’ not ‘I...’ when serving a patron
We are alert to the presence of each patron
We say ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’ in greeting
We seat our patron whenever possible."
It kept the store at the forefront of Nottingham’s retail success and helped to finance a second rebuilding scheme started in 1912.
Griffin and Spalding was still trading on Long Row when in 1912, a second rebuilding scheme around the market place was started.
This happened again in 1924 when the main Long Row and Market Street sections of the building were given a facing of Portland stone and gave the building the look it still has today in early 21st Century classical architecture.
However, the emergence and popularity of national retailers like Debenhams led to changes in the 1940s.
The descendants of Griffin and Spalding received an offer from Debenhams that was accepted, although the store itself did not become a Debenhams until 1973.
Hilary Silvester, a leading member of Nottingham Civic Society, reflected on the Debenhams building and going inside Griffin and Spalding as a young girl in the 1950s.
She said: "The building has been in its current form for around 100 years now. Its architect is not known unfortunately but it'/s the same builder as the Clark's building a little further down.
"It's quite an imposing building, despite being quite plain in design. It would be quite sad to see it knocked down or something.
"When it was Griffin and Spalding, it was Nottingham's premier department store and considered itself a cut above Jessops. I remember it having a huge mahogany staircase and it had a lovely restaurant in there too.
"Debenhams closing down now is such a shame, although the business has lost its name as the premier department store in Nottingham to places like John Lewis I think.
"It has a history within itself and it would sad to see that end like this."
Debenhams has been a major retailer in Old Market Square since the early 1970s, but now that all looks set to change following the company's collapse.
