death on the high street

death on the high street
Originally uploaded by -{The Broken Camera}-

I took this on Sunday morning in the midst of the snow flurry. A couple going in said to the Woolworths employee standing outside "the a man taking photographs..." Well that's usually what happens with cameras. Cameras don't take pictures people do.

I had heard earlier in the week that the Woolworths Group PLC was in financial difficulties. So wanted a shot of this place for old times sake. We all have memories of "Woolies". Certainly of this shop in Great Yarmouth as a child collected many sets of Airfix figures and other items such as sweets. Actually just typing this gave me a flashback to those times of the early seventies. But that's the problem as a brand it seems to hold more as memories of "pick and mix" rather than actually spending any cash there. I used the passport photo booth about twenty years ago and that's it. If they are selling things off cheap I was wondering if they have any rolls of film going cheap?

I know it's abit of an institution here in the UK but the original Woolworths is an American concept was born out of a period of the 19th century that is far removed from today. Time and cultural patterns have changed. It would be worth investigating how much advance the internet has made from high street commerce. Not that is everything but there is a change in the air of how we use the center of urban areas. Much to ponder but an evolution rather than complete change.

It was on the news last week that shops might just get through winter but it's Easter that is make or brake for some. Yes it is indeed a death on the high street.