Dundee’s shops

The recent correspondence about Dundee’s shops has prompted several readers to get in touch.

One says: “The reader who said that DM Meldrum in Reform Street was an ‘Italian’ grocer’s is quite wrong.

“Meldrum’s was a sports outfitters, next to Cairds.

“There were three sports shops in Dundee in the post-war period: Meldrum’s, Kidd and Wallace on the north side of the High Street (roughly opposite Castle Street) and David Low’s in Commercial Street.

“Burns & Harris used to publish an annual street directory with all the shop premises listed.

“Incidentally, does anyone know why superior grocers back in the day used to be called Italian warehouse men?”

Another Dundee reader called in to say: “DM Allan was the name of the high class grocer’s, wine merchant and Italian warehouseman at 47 Reform Street.

“The owner, Mr David Maxwell Allan, died and his son FW Allan, who had just come back from the war, had to go into the family business.”

And Sheena Campsie adds: “In the late 40s, early 50s I can remember Meldrum’s being a sports shop. As my father’s office was directly above it and I went there most days after school, I can definitely remember seeing sports equipment there and possibly toys.

“My first tennis racket was also purchased there. “I think I am correct in saying that Cairds took over Meldrum’s when it expanded and continued selling ports equipment there .”