The social networking site of 1976
HERE IS a question which ranks alongside “What did we do before we had mobile p h o n e s ? ” a n d that is, simply, “Where did the Jewish community go to shop before Brent Cross?” Schlep up to the West End? Or hope they might strike it lucky along Golders Green Road, even though the parking could be a nightmare? (Nothing new there, then.)
Life, as we know it, changed completely in 1976. Yes, it was quite a year: Nadia Comeneci wowed us at the Montreal Olympics; Brotherhood of Man won the Eurovision Song Contest with and some dodgy dance moves — and the Israeli Defence Force earned global admiration for its daring hostage rescue mission at Entebbe.
On the South Bank, the National Theatre greeted its first audiences — but a little further north of the Thames, a much more interesting building opened its doors and has become a second home to many of us ever since.
This month, Brent Cross celebrates its 40th anniversary. Like anything 40 years old, it has changed over time but, unlike the rest of us, age has not withered it.
Indeed, there have been a few facelifts over the years and today it looks more glorious than ever before — spacious and airy, thanks to some changes in the way light enters the building; easy to access and, best of all, the parking is both plentiful and free.
In fact, the changes have been integrated so seamlessly into the original design that it is hard to remember what it was like back in 1976, when we sweltered in the hottest summer we had known for years and if you said you liked Curry you were almost certainly referring to our Olympic skating champion, rather than an Indian take-away.
When you entered Brent Cross — and there were numerous entrances around the huge mall (how American that sounded!) — you tended to gravitate towards the centre of the complex.
There, on the ground floor, an impressive fountain (think Lake Geneva but a tad smaller) thrust its water towards the circular ceiling, which was covered in a pattern of tiny multi-coloured glass shards, graduating through all the colours of the rainbow. The effect was memorable and magical. Many a child stood transfixed at this pretty show. It wasn’t quite the Bellagio in Las Vegas but it came a good second.
At either end of the shopping complex were two giants of the retail world: J ohn Lewis and Fenwick. It was (and still is) quite normal to cast a quick glance both ways as you enter Brent Cross, to remind yourself which end is which.
If your children became restless, there were large wooden animals in one area, on which they could clamber and have lots of fun. Or you could take them to one of the restaurants and cafés in the centre, which made shopping such a pleasure.
Brent Cross turned shopping into an experience, a fun few hours out — and something a lot more enjoyable than a trip to the local high street, which probably had fewer decent shops and worse weather.
Yes, at Brent Cross you could always shop without having to endure the perils of the English climate. Well, that’s not strictly true...
On December 18, 2010, Brent Cross made the national news when horrendous snow forced management to close its doors at 1pm on a Saturday — not just any Saturday but the one right before the Christmastime public holidays, when it had been due to stay open until 10pm, well after Shabbat went out. People all over north-west London were calling each other in desperation — their favourite haunt had closed, what were they to do? Butbythenextday,the mall had reopened, sending ripples of relief throughout the capital. The tills were ringing once more and the shoppers returned eagerly to the mother ship.
Not long after it opened, Brent Cross became the place to socialise and not just buy things. Going out to shop and eat brought together two of the community’s favourite pastimes, under one roof. What more could we ask for? So let’s raise a glass and say “to Brent Cross. Here’s to the next 40 years… we couldn’t manage without you.