Showing posts with label Hitchin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hitchin. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

The Happy Shopper in Hitchin

I've been on the lookout for other classic Happy Shopper shops since spotting the Happy Shopper in Preston last year.


The Happy Shopper in Hitchin

I remember seeing the Happy Shopper shops and branded products a lot when I was growing up in the 1980's and 90's but I didn't think there would be many left considering Happy Shopper underwent a rebrand in 2000.

Luckily I've found a few.

One of them is the Happy Shopper, aka the Nightingale Supermarket & Off License, on Nightingale Road in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. When we lived in Luton we drove past this particular Happy Shopper a fair bit.

The Happy Shopper in Hitchin

I was down in Luton again recently and had to check out the Hitchin Happy Shopper to see if it was still there. I'm happy to report that it is.

The Happy Shopper in Hitchin
A happy shopper at a Happy Shopper

Check out my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Tandy in Hitchin

You can still see some Tandy signage at the old Electronic Universe shop in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.


Tandy in Hitchin

I recently passed through Hitchin en route to Luton and had to make a quick stop to see if the old Tandy signage was still up at the former Electronic Universe shop on Churchgate in the town centre. Luckily some of it still was. However, the sign at the rear of the store has now gone.

Tandy in Hitchin

My first job was at a Tandy franchise shop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire back in 1996 where I remember selling a number of electronic products bearing the 'RadioShack', 'Genexxa' and 'Realistic' brand names.

Tandy in Hitchin

It's always fun spotting old brands and signage and a real treat when it's something rare like Tandy. I've also seen some RadioShack signs on my travels.

While in Hitchin I also took a look at a classic Happy Shopper and in Luton took a look at my old local Blockbuster Video store.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Long Lost High Street Shops - Tandy

A look back at Tandy.


Tandy in Hitchin

I was lucky enough to spot Tandy branding on some signage at a shop while in Hitchin last year. The Tandy signs had been uncovered as the shop on Churchgate was being refurbished following the closure of Electronic Universe. The reveal showed that Electronic Universe had at one point been a Tandy dealer.

Tandy in Hitchin

In 2016 I spotted this Tandy sign at the back of the shop.

Tandy in Hitchin
It's always a shame to see CRT tellys going to waste

Working at Tandy

My first job was at a Tandy franchise shop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire where I remember selling a number of electronic products bearing the 'RadioShack', 'Genexxa' and 'Realistic' brand names.

It's always fun spotting old brands & signage and a treat when it's something rare like Tandy.

Tandy said goodbye to the UK high street in 2001 as the last of the shops was converted after acquisition by Carphone Warehouse.

RadioShack

Until fairly recently there was a RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes. Unfortunately that store closed its doors in 2019.

RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes
I bought a VHS tape in there when I first found the shop in 2017

Other relics of the high street

We've also seen the remnants of Woolworths, Toys R Us and Kwik Save on our travels.

Our most local, still visible 'dead brand' can be seen at the old Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.

Friday, June 21, 2019

Mr Sparkle in Hitchin

Continuing the funny Homer Simpson bootlegs thread, we spotted this Mr Sparkle poster in Hitchin a few years ago.

Homer Simpson at Rocabessa Bar in Hitchin 28 June 2014
Fishbulb

Monday, January 07, 2019

Tandy in Hitchin

Spotting some old Tandy branding in Hitchin.


Tandy in Hitchin

We were recently back in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and spotted the electronics shop at Churchgate had closed down. Electronic Universe had been trading in the town since 1982 and closed due to retirement last February. The old shop signs had been taken down and luckily for us we were able to see some even older branding from when the shop was a Tandy dealer! A nice blast from the past.

Tandy in Hitchin
A once familiar sight on UK high streets. Circa 1990

While visiting Hitchin Market back in March 2016 I spotted a great old Tandy sign at the back of the shop at Biggin Lane that brought back happy memories for me.

Tandy in Hitchin
The Tandy sign round the back of the shop

My first job was at a Tandy franchise shop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, where I remember selling a number of electronic products bearing the 'RadioShack', 'Genexxa' and 'Realistic' brand names. Halcyon days.

In 2001 Tandy said goodbye to the UK high street as the last of the shops were converted after their acquisition by Carphone Warehouse.

I thought the Tandy brand name was still defunct, but it's not as Tandy lives on as an online retailer of electronic components and kits!

Interestingly the name Tandy comes from one of the founders of a leather goods company called Tandy Leather - a business that later became RadioShack.

There is still a RadioShack trading in the UK. It's in Lytham Saint Annes.

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Gullon (sin gluten) gluten free biscuits and crackers

While at Hitchin Market this morning we spotted these big boxes of gluten free biscuits and crackers on one of the food stalls!


I've bought the chocolate cookies before (they're very scoffable), but I've never seen the Sharkies biscuits or the crackers. Brilliant stuff.

Related blog posts:
Gluten Free
Coeliac
- Sin Gluten
Funny things about being a Coeliac

Links:
- Gullon
Coeliac UK