The bad news of its closure was announced by the company one year later, bringing to an end a piece of Sheffield history that went back to 1847, when Cole Brothers opened their first store on Fargate.
Usually, March was a happy time when staff, who are called partners as they have a share in the business, found out what their bonus would be.
The store has always been called Cole Brothers or just Coles by generations of Sheffielders. Here we look back on just a small part of that history in pictures, dating from the point when Coles moved from Fargate to Barker’s Pool.
5. Road trip dream
Phil Ward, who worked at the John Lewis store in Sheffield as a floor coverings estimator, decided to put his company bonus towards a 4,000-mile road trip from Minneapolis to New Orleans to celebrate his upcoming 50th birthday in March 2010. Photo: Sarah Washbourn
6. Owls catwalk
Owls players on the catwalk along with John Lewis staff modelling the new kit for the forthcoming season in July 2009. Pictured, Mark Beevers with a young fan Photo: Steve Ellis
7. Waiting in line
Part of the large crowd waiting for the opening of Cole Brothers' new store in Barker's Pool, Sheffield by the Lord Mayor, Ald Isidore Lewis, on September 17, 1963 Photo: SNL
8. Happy shoppers
Opening day crowds getting a first look inside the new Cole Brothers store in Barkers Pool, Sheffield in September 1963 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers