Life on the cobbles would be very different without the local businesses in and around the street where our favourite characters interact.
They've been the location for so many iconic storylines and the places were Coronation Street residents work, socialise or stir drama. Whether you're a fan of ITV soap or not, you will more than likely know familiar businesses like the Rovers Return, Underworld, The Kabin and more.
But unfortunately, not all of the businesses have stood the test of time. And as life has changed since the show first started, so has the street and the shops, pubs, salons and more that operate there.
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Some have completely disappeared, changed hands over the years and been renamed, or the buildings have become something else entirely. Here, we take a look back at a handful of Coronation Street businesses that have come and gone through the years.
This list it not intended to be comprehensive. But if there's any other lost Corrie businesses you'd like to see, let us know in the comments section
Bettabuy
Bettabuy was a chain of supermarkets that had a branch in Weatherfield. Later becoming Freshco, it was often frequented by the residents of Coronation Street.
Many Corrie fans will remember the likes of Reg Holdsworth who worked in the management team there. At one time, Vera Duckworth was also a member of staff.
Elliott & Son
In the early noughties, Weatherfield locals went to Elliott & Son butchers to buy their meat. Located on Victoria Street, the business was run by former Rovers Return landlord Fred Elliott until his death in 2006.
Ashley, Fred's son, later took over the business. But the butchers closed in 2010 when he was killed as a result of the tragic Corrie tram crash.
Years later, Yasmeen Nazir began renting the property. With the help of her husband, Sharif, the pair opened a community centre near the cobbles, called Jamila House.
MVB Motors
Owned by Mike Baldwin, many will remember MVB Motors - Michael Vernon Baldwin Motors - being on the cobbles. Located on the street itself, it previously employed mechanic Kevin Webster.
The garage was later sold to Don Brennan, triggering a feud. Kevin and Tony Horrocks later went into business together and renamed MVM as Coronation Street Garage.
What is your favourite Coronation Street business? Let us know in the comments section below.
Denise's/Hair by Fiona Middleton/Audrey's
For many years, the ladies of Coronation Street always had a hairdressers to rely on. And 2 Coronation Street has seen a number of owners, staff and business names come and go whilst on our screen.
Denise's hair salon was run by Denise Osborne in the early 1990s. And when she was looking to sell years later, her employee, Fiona Middleton, stepped in to take the reigns, renaming the business Hair by Fiona Middleton.
When Fiona left Weatherfield , the salon was sold to Audrey Roberts. Audrey's thrived on the cobbles from the late 90s till 2020. Ray Crosby bought the site in an attempt to redevelop the street, before it became pop-up nail salon Alina Pop.
Friends of Weatherfield Hospital Charity Shop
Whilst we've seen 2 Coronation Street as numerous hairdressers - it was also home to a charity shop for some time. In the early 90s, Emily Bishop launched the Friends of Weatherfield Hospital Charity Shop.
It was local councillor Deirdre Barlow who did the honours of officially opening it and a number of street residents donated their old clothes to stock the shop. But the shop didn't last on the cobbles for long and the following year became Denise's hair salon.
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Barlow's Bookies/ Barlow's Buys
Barlow's Bookies was originally opened by Peter Barlow on Rosamund Street, but later became Harry Mason Turf Accountant, run by Harry and his son Dan.
By 2013, Peter, who still owned the property, had rented out the premises to sister Tracy, who launched her own cash converters' business. Barlow's Buys. But after struggling with the business, Tracy parted ways with Barlow's Buys and opened up a florist's shop in the same premises, named Preston's Petals, after boyfriend Robert Preston.
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Baldwin's Casuals/Baldwin's Curtains
Before his reign at Underworld, Mike Baldwin opened Baldwin's Casuals on moving to the street in the 1970s. The denim clothing manufacturing company also had a factory in London, but its northern base at one point employed workers including Ernest and Emily Bishop and Vera Duckworth.
By the 80s, Mike switched to producing curtains and renamed the business Baldwin's Curtains. But the following year, Mike was approached by a developer.
He went on to give up the building, which was quickly demolished. New development saw properties later built on the site.
PJ Leisure/PJ Promotions
Before Underworld moved in, PJ Leisure, the namesake of Phil Jennings, called the site home. Opening in the 1990s, the premises was also used for Phil's separate business ventures, such as PJ Promotions.
Many Corrie fans will remember Deidre Barlow working there. But it wasn't meant to be as Phil, who was heavily in debt, fled the country leaving the business behind.
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