Rumours of a bleak times ahead for Poundland could cost Sheffield another empty department store should the brand go under.
The bargain retailer is navigating talks to save itself from insolvency, after filing a notice last week to appoint administrators and placing as many as 11,000 jobs at risk.
But, for the John Walsh building on High Street in Sheffield, which the budget brand calls home, it wouldn’t be the first time a big British name has come and gone.
The enormous building at the corner of High Street and Castle Square has a storied history, including devastation at the hands of the Nazis during the Sheffield Blitz, a rebirth under Harrods, and a centrepiece of shopping near the Hole in the Road.
Over the years it has been the home of Walsh’s of Sheffield, Rackhams, House of Fraser and T J Hughes.
The enormous building as we recognise it today was broken into three smaller stores in 2013 to make it more palatable to businesses.
But shops with such huge footprints are hard to fill on modern day UK high street, and Poundland’s uncertain future could spell another empty department store in Sheffield city centre.
Is the John Walsh Building Sheffield’s next Cole Brothers?
Take a look at our gallery below for a fly-by history of one of Sheffield’s single biggest buildings and some of the names that have come and gone over the years.
9. T.J.Hughes
T J Hughes enjoyed 12 more years before the firm went into administration in 2011. | NSST
10. T J Hughes relaunch party, 2011
The 'relaunch' party for T J Hughes in September 2011, after the firm went into administration in June that year. The brand would remain on High Street another year before moving to The Moor. Pictured here is Sheffield's Town Cryer, Henry Cryer, Steeler Dan, T J Hughes' store manager, Marie Catchpole, deputy manager Julie Hancock and TJ Hughes director Amit Juneja. | NSST
11. T J Hughes in 2008
It's unheard of today for a single shop to dominate such a large building, but this photo from 2008 shows how big of a footprint the T J Hughes store had on High Street in Sheffield. | Steve Parkin
12. Toy Appeal at T J Hughes
A Christmastime photo from inside T J Hughes during The Star Toy Appeal in December 2004. | ©Sheffield Newspapers Ltd