Derby’s retail offering was given a boost earlier this week when it was announced department store Frasers is to open in the city. The national chain, which is to take on the former Debenhams unit at Derbion, is the latest in a long line to bring their wares to Derby, as these pictures show
Considered to be one of the oldest department stores in the world Bennetts, which was established in 1734, served generations of Derbeians from its Iron Gate store up until its shock closure in 2019
Derbeians of a certain age will remember shopping at Ranbys in Victoria Street, pictured here decorated to celebrate the Coronation of King George VI
Ranbys was later replaced by national department chain Debenhams. The business would eventually move to the Derbion (Intu Centre) but it’s high street presence disappeared last year when the firm fell into administration. The building pictured is no more, either, as it was demolished to make way for the Becketwell regeneration
The Co-op Department Store was a fixture in East Street until the chain fell into administration in 2013
Taken sometime in the 1950s/60s, this picture shows Jean Hough and Jackie Burnett dressing the window ahead of the January sale at Midland Drapery. George can also be seen cleaning the windows
From left: Chris Walters, Anita Ashley, Sharon Buckley, Kay Bird and Anne Hayes were served up an early Christmas present in the form of jobs at the city’s new Lee Longlands department store in December 2013
The words Thurman and Malin can just be made out on this building in St Peter’s Street.
Now home to McDonald’s, it first started out in the late 1890s as a department store. Thurman and drapers, Malin was a hosiers and undertakers business