Through the years, Clayton Square Shopping Centre has seen some big changes to the high street names that occupy its units.
Back in 1989, Clayton Square first opened in the city centre and with it brought a host of new stores to the city. In the coming years, we saw huge brands such as Tammy Girl, Principles, Disney and Oasis open on site.
The second level was home to a café, toilets and an internet café – while shoppers also ventured upstairs for more shops, including the first floors of Boots and Virgin. When it first opened, Clayton Square’s footfall was 7.8m, but over the years we have seen some shops, like many other shopping centres and areas, come and go.
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Its makeover, which began in 2014, transformed the centre into a single trading mall, with the removal of escalators opening it up. Here, we take a look at some of Clayton Square's lost shops that we remember and miss in the city centre.
This list isn't intended to be comprehensive, we've included a number of lost Clayton Square stores over the years. But if you think there is a business we should have included. Let us know in the comments section below.
Virgin Megastore/Zavvi
The Virgin Megastore is still remembered fondly in the city. Anyone who was after the latest singles or vinyl's would head to Virgin and it was usually packed at the weekends.
Many will also remember celebrities visits like when Quentin Tarantino saw fans queue for 12 hours in 2007. HMV's biggest high street rival, the Clayton Square site later became Zavvi after a buy-out but was placed in administration in late 2008.
Pilot/Internacionale
Occupying unit 12-14, the fashion retailers aimed to offer on trend clothing and accessories for young women, mostly teenagers. Pilot clothes can still be found online.
But the Internacionale store, which was based on the top floor of Clayton Square, closed after all the brand's stores were acquired by MK One. It went into administration in February 2014
The Disney Store
In the 1990s, Liverpool was one of the earliest UK Disney stores to open and products linked to the likes of Toy Story or 101 Dalmatians were proving to be a hit. Selling everything from Disney’s character toys to clothes, collectibles and more, it became a go to destination for families shopping in the city centre.
The store later relocated to Liverpool ONE when the shopping centre opened in 2008. Morrisons went on to call the site home, before a new branch of McDonald's in later years.
Etam and Tammy Girl
If you grew up in Liverpool in the 90s - you’re bound to remember Tammy Girl. Popular with teens, Tammy Girl sold all the best clothing and accessories.
Mums wanted to go to high street staple Etam while pre-teens and teenagers were always more interested in heading upstairs to the much-missed Tammy Girl. The Tammy name later became part of BHS. The unit went on to became a branch of Monsoon.
Principles
Founded in the 80s by the Arcadia group, Principles was an upmarket clothing retailer once based in Clayton Square. It was later sold off and its parent company collapsed in 2009.
Debenhams later relaunched the brand as "Principles by Ben de Lisi." Many people may not even remember Principles being based at Liverpool ONE, but it was one of the original stores on the top floor of Liverpool ONE, located next to Esprit during its first year in July 2008, before it was closed.
George
George at ASDA still lives on today - but the clothing line once had a sizeable standalone shop upstairs in Clayton Square. In the early 00s, Scousers who couldn't get enough of Asda's clothing ranges would head there to browse the clothes rails.
But, the site later closed down. It was eventually replaced by a Poundworld shop.
Whittard of Chelsea
Whittard of Chelsea is a chain of shops selling coffee, tea and other related products. Founded in the 1800s, it once boasted a branch in Clayton Square.
The small unit at no 21 Clayton Square sold a huge range of tea and coffee beans, as well as kitchenware. But the store later left the site.
Do you remember any of these lost Clayton Square stores? Let us know in the comments section below.
Millie’s Cookies
Today, Millie's Cookies can still be found in the city centre. A shop is open in St John's Market and there is also a kiosk in Liverpool ONE.
But years ago, those with a sweet tooth flocked to no.25 Clayton Square for the chain’s muffins, cookies and milkshakes. Many will remember getting off the train at Liverpool Central or Liverpool Lime Street and heading to buy a treat with their pocket money, or a massive cookie to celebrate a special occasion.
Oasis
At unit 10 on the ground level, with entrances facing onto Church Street and into Clayton Square itself, this small, narrow shop was popular with shoppers who aspired to the latest styles in women’s fashions. It appealed to those who wanted a more sophisticated yet still youthful look and had slightly more cash to spend on their clothes.
Oasis later moved out of the site to a new home in Liverpool ONE. But in 2018, the ECHO reported how the retailer closed its doors.
Wallis
Wallis womenswear still operates today, but years ago it also called Clayton Square home. The women’s clothing chain was a high street rival for Principles - and a rival a few doors away.
There was also a Wallis on Lord Street in the city centre in later years. Today, the brand exists online instead of in physical shops.
Clas Ohlsen
In 2009, Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson announced it was moving into Liverpool after clinching a deal to take over the former Zavvi store in Clayton Square. Opening in 2010, shoppers would head to the store for a variety of hardware items.
Split over two floors, it welcomed customers for almost a decade. But in 2018, Clas Ohlsen announced it was closing as it pulled out of the UK high street.
Smith & Westwood
At unit 42, this upmarket shop once sold designer brands. This included Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith.
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Ciro Citterio
This men’s clothing store was in unit 15. In 2001, the brand had over 100 stores, but the number dwindled as successive owners tried to revive its fortunes.
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