Editor's comment: Angry and sad as Sheffield set to lose John Lewis

It is with a very heavy heart that Sheffield faces a future without John Lewis. We have had an ongoing battle with the chain of stores in recent years and it has felt like the sword of Damocles has dangled for far too long. But when it finally hit with a thud yesterday, the pain was no less.
The Star photographer captured the crowds waiting for the opening of Cole Brothers' new store in Barkers Pool, September 1963.The Star photographer captured the crowds waiting for the opening of Cole Brothers' new store in Barkers Pool, September 1963.
The Star photographer captured the crowds waiting for the opening of Cole Brothers' new store in Barkers Pool, September 1963.

My heart goes out to the hundreds of ‘partners’ who will lose their jobs and the massive impact that will have on so many families. Let’s be honest, most people shopped there because the staff are so lovely and helpful so we truly feel for them. However, I am furious that – despite it all – the anchor department store in Sheffield has now gone while others in Yorkshire have clearly been given priority. We’ve been sold down the river – and, no, we haven’t forgotten that Leeds got a big, shiny new shop while Sheffield’s remained a dated eyesore in desperate need of tlc. Their car park was better than our store!

I’m sure I’m not the only one to believe our council effectively begged for updates from the bosses for years and it has felt like our city centre development was held back by it. Then came the multi-million pound deal but it wasn’t enough. Let me tell you, there is nothing in the world that will make me drive up the M1 to shop in the newer branch now. That always seemed to me the original aim … long before the pandemic gave the final kick in the teeth.

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We still reminisce about Cole Brothers and meeting at Coles Corner, long before it moved to Barkers Pool. I can’t imagine our city will feel nostalgic to John Lewis in the same way and they have only themselves to blame. We wanted them to stay, lots spent their money there and it wasn’t enough.

We will rise again, I was reminded quite quickly after the news broke, but you can’t blame me for wondering when that will actually happen.

I haven’t forgotten how creative, imaginative and determined Sheffielders are or that it is that uniqueness which will carry us through. But I am so sad for our city centre. It has to be the beating heart of Sheffield and it is becoming all the more clear that if we want it massaged back to life, it’ll be down to us to do it ourselves. There you go, I’ve already re-found a little bit of fighting spirit. You’ll find me shopping with our brilliant independents as soon as allowed.

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