A time when Liverpool ONE was still decades away - Church Street looks so similar yet so different to how it looks today.
Since the above photo, courtesy of our archives, Mirrorpix, was taken in October 1984, we've seen the city centre develop and we've said goodbye to a number of our favourite independents and high street brands. Before The Vintage Store, there was Topman and Topshop, River Island was once a WH Smith and there was also a Burger King near Keys Court.
And many will remember the days of C&A before it was home to L'Occitane and Decathlon. Sometimes known as Coats and 'Ats, C&A was a popular fashion giant that had something for everyone, the Liverpool ECHO previously reported.
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C&A was founded in 1841 by German-Dutch brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer, before it became a major presence throughout the UK and the name of the colourful budget brand came from the first initials of each owner.
By the start of the 20th Century, C&A began to play a major role in making the latest fashions that were accessible and affordable to shoppers. By 1922, it opened its first British store in London and from there the brand continued to grow, opening sites in likes of Teesside, Hull, Manchester - and Liverpool.
C&A stood tall as a go-to destination for bargain-hunters for decades in Merseyside, with sites also in Birkenhead and nearby in Chester. Many will remember the "Man at C&A" and "Woman at C&A" ranges being particularly popular.
The Liverpool ECHO recently posted the photo of Church Street in 1984 on our Facebook page. And many shared their memories of the lost store in the city centre, as well as their memories of Church Street.
On Facebook, Glennis Waring said: "I worked for Solicitor straight from college and had an obsession with hats used go to C & A in my lunchtime trying on the biggest hats I could find this was in 60s Liverpool was so vibrant back then x." Pat McMahon wrote: "Miss C& A, They still have stores on the continent I go if I see one. Me and my daughter went over the day before Liverpool ONE opened, bad move. So many stores closed."
Anita Sahni said: "Good old days." Linda Marie Owens commented: "Ah loved C & A!"
Ellen Cheyne wrote: "Just how I remember it in The eighties. It was always chocca with shoppers and was a great experience. On a Thursday after being handed my wage packet by the securicor man who arrived in his armoured van, I’d catch the bus into town to blow my wages on clothes from Clockhouse at C&A and the big bear trading Co, ready for the weekend. Top shop/top man used to have a live DJ and he would play the music really loud!"
Do you remember C&A? Let us know in the comments section below.
Breda Madden posted: "Loved C&A lots of bargains in the Basement, much prefer it before the" Big Change." Lynne Cain commented: "I used to work near the town hall and quite often myself and a friend would bag a pasties and walk up town. Used to love shopping in BHS, Littlewoods Marks and C&A. Passed a very pleasant lunch."
Lynne Connor posted: "Me and my sister worked in C and A best job we ever had, we loved working there." Jackie Lewis said: "Memories of shopping well before these times . C&A,Coopers ,George Henry Lees ,all great shops 1960s."
Irene Cotham wrote: "Loved the city like this - always busy , great stylish shops." And Geraldine Bennett commented: "Yes Thursday payday would be a trip to C&A."
C&A Modes, as it was once called, opened in a blaze of glory on its Church Street site, with an image to rival Harrods and the distinction of being only the second of the company's UK stores outside London. The site was always busy and known for selling quality and affordable clothing to loyal customers across the generations.
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Many will remember when the store had its own boutique label – Clockhouse. The range was aimed at a younger market.
But after decades of trading, C&A announced it was closing its doors for good in the early noughties. In November 2000, C&A closed its Church Street branch after decades in the city centre.
At the time, it was locally reported how around 80 staff at C&A in Church Street stopped work at lunchtime, but that shoppers had flooded back to the Liverpool store and sales shot up by 30% since the closure was announced. But, the brand does live on in Europe.
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