TOUR OF ALLDERS OF CROYDON, 2012 | Just Days Before Closing FOREVER

[@paulanewland2533]

Really sad. I’m sitting on my Allders sofa which is 20 years old watching this. The day Allders closed ripped the heart out of Croydon. I still miss it all these years later

[@robertatkinson7501]

Thank ~You !!!!! I worked at Allders for 11 years starting from 1979 I met my wife there, And so many friends it was a magnificent place which initially treated staff really well! Under Peter Saunders the MD ( a people man) Im now 50 and have 9 jobs under my belt, most better paid than Allders! ~BUT THAT WAS MY BEST TIME OF MY LIFE a fantastic family DEDICATED to service- which we now lack in high street shopping!

[@Skaterbun]

Check out youtuber Beno lifts video taken a year ago called Urbex in Allders Croydon. The place is a decaying mess now. Beno investigated the entire building inside and came across all the staff personnel files which some idiot leaving the building forgot to shred. Copies of passports, photos dates of birth the lot. These records need retrieving and destroying as I would hate it if my records fell into the wrong hands!

[@cancerfour69er]

I'm 49+ Croydon born 1969 raised Oakfield Road..Allders was A Great Place To Run Up And Down And Around In..Xx

[@rajnirvan3336]

Heartbreaking 😢. Sad seeing this building left to rot. It has apparently been boarded up with art. I haven’t been here in a few years but must see

[@mark1968]

Croydon has never been the same since Allders closed its doors. I remember going there as a child (in the 1980s) and having a steak and kidney pie meal in their massive restaurant on the top floor. It was all freshly made on the premises (none of this pre-made rubbish you get these days) You really could lose yourself in Allders - it was that big. Happy memories.

[@Just-u7q3l]

I USE TO SHOP IN C&A WHEN I WAS IN MY TEEN'S, IT WAS A VERY GOOD STORE. IT'S SAD TO SEE ALLDERS, BHS, WOOLWORTHS, C&A, LITTLEWOODS GONE FROM CROYDON. WORSE TIMES CAME TO CROYDON DURING LONDON RIOTS, THEY BURNT DOWN THE FURNITURE SHOP. I HOPE CROYDON IMPROVES, AND ALL THIS KNIFE CRIME GOES, LET'S HOPE THE YOUNG KIDS CHANGE CROYDON IN FUTURE.

[@reverendbluejeans1748]

I didn't realise it was closed until I tried to go upstares.

[@rajnirvan3336]

Croydon itself is a shadow of its former self. 90s and 2000s were my regular visits

[@qamerashah]

I remember changing buses right in front of Allders in the 80s on the way home from college especially recall the beautifully decorated windows during Christmas . I moved to the States in ‘86 but so glad that folks have captured these memories

[@peterdudley9869]

The final closing days of a retail giant that sadly is no more. RIP Allders Dept Stores. Went here all the time as a kid, saw Santa in his magical grotto. Allders made Croydon.

[@679hot]

iam 48 and i can remember taking my brother to see father christmas at allders.he is now 37.the nativerty seen in allders shop window was fantastic and i used to look forwood to the christmas seen in the allders shop window.so sad that allders/woolworths/hmv ect have all gone

[@cancerfour69er]

48 5 yes ago. Now 53..I'm 49 going 50 born in queen street hospital 1969/4/7july..Xx

[@paulanewland2533]

I remember those Christmas windows in the 1970s from the top deck of my bus. They were beautiful

[@piperbob2]

Allders was the jewel in Croydon's crown. No Turtles, no Woolworths, no In-Shops (later called Tramms), just to name a few, and now no Allders.

[@IndigoJo]

Tramms was the Croydon Indoor Market originally.

[@MrOrcshaman]

I came here remembering the Allders in my town as a kid, ours closed years before the chain collapsed but I still remember it as a kid, the warm lighting, always loved the lighting section for some reason, felt sad seeing it closed. Now debenhams is closing, though I don't feel as bad about that fact, I saw allders as a store most people could afford something from unlike debenhams which was always overpriced.

[@Croydonization]

Great comment and memories- thank you!

[@jgee5094]

When the white pound left Croydon it just crumbled and now it's really run down. I was in town a few months ago and it's awful.

[@Skaterbun]

I just read above, no nestle. Croydon is dead. The riots were the nail in the coffin. How sad I have no hometown :(

[@immrchris]

I worked there in the 80's ahh happy days

[@cancerfour69er]

Born 4/7/1969..ALLDERS WAS MY HOME RUN AROUND..Xx..That and Vanguard Estate When it was being Constructed...

[@salllu]

And it's 30/07/2020 I am working as a security officer to look out for the empty building and this store is deserted....

[@loopiewho]

i bought so many things from alders which i still have got now and still working and going strong ranging from my toaster my blender my cooker and lamps too tons of things good quality ,and always a full guarantee not like the 30 days you have now ,back then it was a full year +. but it was clean tidy smart the place was maintained well not like now croydon out let is a nasty dirty mostly disused closed off bomb site ,the place is a tip no class there now not even a loo ,its such a shame really miss alders

[@Kubulek17]

loopiewho smells absolutely disgusting too and it’s terrifying with all the dark corridors and closed of escalators

[@bhanuroopchand6091]

My best suvenir for Alders.

[@chrisclose7793]

I loved going Christmas shopping at alders with my late mum such a big place could get lost in there

[@nelsonricardo3729]

I'm American and know of Allders on through Mr. Bean. Shame, it seemed like a nice mid-market store.

[@dfg1999]

Mr. Bean brought me here.

[@euvi85]

Kine Phile me too

[@jonnelponesto813]

Me too in the return of mr bean.

[@GMW.artist]

Mr Bean was filmed at Allders of Sutton and at Arding and Hobbs in Clapham,, NOT at Allders of Croydon ✌🏽😎

[@brendawest4078]

As I sit watching this with great sadness I am sitting in the light of my Scwarofski crystal chandeliers . I have never seen a lighting department before or since to rival it Croydon without Allders is without its soul !!

[@alexk3948]

Sad times - loved that place

[@paulhunter123]

i always got lost in this fricking store always looking for up and down escalators and in the end just the dam exit

[@samharradence5689]

I miss it so much.

[@pmajudge]

😢😢😢😢😢!!! R.I.P. ALLDERS ! MISSED GREATLY ! FROM, U.K. (2024).

[@mark1968]

Sad to see the place all gone now.

[@makmakg242]

TIL Mr. Bean immortalized Allders

[@YellowDiamonds]

I think they're closing Debenham's too. 🤦‍♂️

[@youlookingatme575]

R.I.P Allders 1862-2013

[@robertatkinson7501]

I was a trainee manager for two years doing college the I ended up in furniture I was the fo 11 years total Sorry for delay in coming back to you

[@U2QuoZepplin]

Gosh I had forgotten that they used to do carpets in there. It's quite ironic when you see across the street to Debenhams too, because that is such an inferior shop. Aĺlders and House of Fraiser were in the same business but Allders was always a cut above the rest.

[@YesYouKnowYourStuff]

How come it closed? Any one? Please. . Was it the increasing land value and the chance to re-develop the site? Does anyone know? Thank you. o0o

[@DavidMarfe]

They closed because failing sales and high rent on the land. It seems it was planned to get allders out for John Lewis/Westfield Redevelopment. But delays in planning and the site looking like a white elephant ment that the site became less and less a good investment on a developers point of view so 12 months after Allders closed Croydon Village Outlet opened. which was heavily backed by croydon council and the land owners. But once development plans were approved all support ended and Croydon village outlet went into administration. But landowner weren't happy with the deal so they halted any plans. Anyway I hear Allders is reopening online www.allders.com according to their facebook page they will return to the high street if Allders online is a success. Fingers crossed :)

[@southlondonlad9144]

I remember going to Croydon as a small child in the 80s too and always going to Allders.

[@matthewprince9705]

This could be a great place for an Entertainment Venue, it's supposed to have 500,000+ square foot of space 🤦‍♂️

[@YellowDiamonds]

I used to come here as a kid to sit on the leather massage chairs haha

[@kroners]

Had a great bar

[@Jon-fh4tj]

Martin Smithers yeah it did, clock out and straight back up there

[@GMW.artist]

I'll remember how fabulous it was in the 1980's thanks... this "Allders" wasn't Allders at all it was a shit-tip ..

[@yoonaclaire]

I miss this from mr bean

[@MrSteeleification]

It was too expensive I'm afraid.

[@lifeoftravel7008]

Mr.bean classic Shooting spot

[@olivereltoro]

Sad to see it go it was in a mr. Bean episode.

[@DavidMarfe]

I hear allders is returning www.allders.com

[@olivereltoro]

Yay, i just read it on facebook

[@cliveevans9795]

Couldn't they saved it

[@paulhunter123]

there was a gloryhole in the gents at the back of oylmpus sports dept in the mid 90s

[@davidmathews7941]

I worked at Allders In the late 70s It was a lovely time It was the it was a Beautiful STORE Happy times indeed Sadly Croydon is Now such a horrible Place How very sad

[@philipdawson3660]

Many a nice cock I had there fond memories

[@cosmic687]

tragic