Whether it was browsing Parrish's department store, a trip to The Apollo cinema or buying fruit and veg from the local greengrocer - generations of Geordies have happy memories of Shields Road through the years.
And that was reflected in a recent ChronicleLive article, which prompted many to share their memories of the once thriving high street. Many locals remember how you could once by anything you wanted on the Byker street, from fresh food, to clothing, accessories and homewear.
Some might have even recall buying items on credit from Beavans Department Store.
Read more: What life was like growing up in Old Byker Victorian slum terraced housing
But over the years the street has changed dramatically and many are sorry to see it as it stands today. A number of the once popular stores stand empty, with graffiti covered shutters replacing the carefully decorated shop windows displaying the latest fashion and electrical devices.
Over recent years, Shields Road has been named as the worst in the UK. But earlier this week, ChronicleLive's Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Holland, reported on how Newcastle City Council is hoping to finally rid the street of the title as it becomes one of five high streets in the East End of Newcastle subject to a new regeneration project.
The council is handing out grants to small businesses and community groups to help revitalise the area. A £2.8m pilot project was launched earlier this year in the hope of bringing empty shops back into use, funding new public art and green spaces, and staging local festivals and other community events.
And the news prompted a number of comments from readers who shared their memories of Shields Road in its heyday. One person wrote: "I lived close to Shields road as a kid, loved to play in Parishes and Bevins, it was a great place to wander up and down. I can still hear the hum of the trolleybusses."
Another said: "Used to live Byker as a kid I wonder if it was really like that back in the day but had good times in the cycle shop I got my first racer there and Parish we used to get out dinner and have a look about shame really what it's like now."
A third added: "It used to be a fab place in the 60s I used to go with my mam every Saturday for the weekend shopping." While a fourth wrote: "Years ago when I was a kid and JT Parish was still there and all the other big shops, it was like going into town but more local. It has simply gone downhill for the past 30 years and is a complete eyesore."
One reader commented: "It did used to be a good place to shop, anyone saying anything else is a clown or way too young and needs an appropriate adult. 30 years ago it had everything, used to cycle from the far west end for bike parts and the excellent cycle shop the aquarium shop was second to none."
And another said: "Such a shame was a great area in the past with independent shops with the likes of wards shoes, lovey china shop nice coffee house now all you see is charity shops and money loans."
What memories do you have of Shields Road and what would you like to see as part of the regeneration project? Let us know in the comments.
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