Throughout the years, there are dozens of Edinburgh stores that locals wish could make a comeback.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and before you know it, your favourite place within the city could be gone forever.
That's exactly what happened to Woolworths across Edinburgh when the brand entered administration and eventually closed all stores in the UK within a speedy turnaround period of less than a month, between December 2008, and January 2009.
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Just like that, everyone favourite high street store, selling the likes of clothes, household items and perhaps the most famous of all, their magnificent Pick N' Mix section, had vanished.
Kids would race to Woolworths every day to fill their cup full of sweets, as well as browse the toy section.
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Scattered across the city and taking up a spot on some of Edinburgh's busiest streets, Woolworths, to this day, remains a huge miss in Edinburgh.
With that being said, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and explore all of the locations where a Woolworths store once stood, and what occupies the same spot now.
Princes Street
Perhaps one of the most well-known branches in Edinburgh at the time, Woolworths once stood on the incredibly busy Princes Street.
In 1925, the flagship store in Scotland was built, opening early in March 1926. It was the second store built in the city, after Leith, although it looked much bigger and was in a much busier area.
Throughout the years, the building expanded into the cinema next door and extending their external façade, adding a floor in the roof.
As most people will know, the Apple store situated on the site of the former Woolworths, but its memories certainly live on.
Leith
The store in Leith was Edinburgh's first Woolworths, opening in 1925 and being the company's 180th overall.
It took over the Queen’s Hotel, and the architecture was kept as it was. The statue of Queen Victoria, located in front of the store, was erected in 1907. It was the result of a meeting at the hotel.
Pictures throughout the years capture the store in a number of different lights, with one even showing the 'closing down sale' posters being displayed in the windows in 2008.
The store was located at the foot of Leith Walk and now, a Furniture and Electrical goods store occupies the same building.
Lothian Road
Built eleven years after the store in Leith, the Woolworths on Lothian road was only a mile from Princes Street, but still proved to be a popular asset.
The store was number 674 at the time and was located just along from the Tollcross junction, with the building now a Poundland.
There were several pictures taken from the inside of this Woolworths through the decades as it operated for almost 80 years.
The store, before closing, changed its name slightly to Woolworths General Store, with a ceremony outside to cut the ribbon and officially open it again under a new brand, taking place.
Portobello
Opening almost 30 years later than the previously mentioned stores, Woolworths in Portobello, on the outskirts of the city, went under the name F. W. Woolworth and Co Ltd.
It is believed to be 855th store that the chain opened and it occupied a small church-looking building.
Although not as much information is available on this particular store, according to the Woolworths Museum, that contains the store number and location for every shop the chain owned, this store was located on 74 Portobello High Street.
On Google Maps, the same church-like building still stands in that spot today, being used as flats and located between a newsagents and a funeral organiser.
Dalry Road
There was also a lesser-known Woolworths on the busy Dalry Road in Edinburgh.
It is believed to have been the 1071st store, opening in 1963, but closing twenty years later.
The store is now, A British Heart Foundation shop, but similar to Leith Walk, it was a Furniture and Electrical store after Woolworths shut.
Raeburn Place
In an upmarket area such as Stockbridge, it is hard to believe that it was once home to a Woolworths store.
Located where the Scotmid stands on the busy Raeburn Place, an image from 2008 shows the store with closing down posters printed in the windows. You can also catch a glimpse of the iconic Pick N' Mix section inside the building.
Unfortunately, the store number or year that it opened is unavailable for this particular location.
Harry Lauder Road
Perhaps the store that kids of today will remember the most, the Woolworths on Harry Lauder Road, at the Jewel, was known as The Big W.
Even I remember this being a Woolworths, and my family still refer to the building as The Big W. When it closed in 2009, the store was turned into a garden centre It is now home to The Range.
This store was perfect for shoppers from the Borders and the Lothians, as it was just on the outskirts of the city centre and easy to find parking. There is also a drive-thru Costa Coffee situated in the car park, that's how big it is.
This particular store was called The Big W as it was originally opened by Kingfisher Group, who were later bought by Woolworths.
Construction for this store started very late compared to the other Edinburgh locations, as it only opened during the summer of 1999, hence why a lot of young adults, like myself, will have fond memories of this location.
