Growing up in the Brent Cross family

IF YOU were born in 1976 in north west London, there is a good chance that your parents stocked up on everything a new baby needed at Mothercare in Brent Cross. Forty years on and a new generation of mothers-to-be and parents with toddlers in tow can be found in the aisles of Mothercare, searching for the latest breast-pumps and stretch suits. The customers have changed but t he shop is still there.

There are, in fact, 13 shops still trading in the centre which were there when it opened. They are the big names in retail and, while others have fallen by the wayside or moved elsewhere, these familiar household names continue to pull in the shoppers.

The ever-popular John Lewis and Fenwick, at either end of the centre, were there at the start, as was M&S (just as the JC stands for the Jew

ish Chronicle, we all know what M&S means).

The emphasis throughout the centre was on “fashion and consumer durables” rather than food. With the increased number of women in the workplace, longer working hours and better convenience meals, it is no wonder that M&S’s ground floor is now largely devoted to food, while Waitrose, another high-end original store, is thriving.

WH Smith (which as a chain amazingly dates back to 1792) and Boots (another golden oldie, founded in 1849) both still have a presence at Brent Cross, though the stores now occupy one level, whereas they initially spread over two floors.

Mi s s Se l f r i d g e remains a popular outlet for the fashionconscious young and H.Samuel stocks a wide selection of mid-range jewellery and watches.

Russell & Bromley still has a loyal following, particularly during sales periods, when customers can be seen browsing the store in search of highheeled, high-class footwear.

The other stalwarts of the centre are Peter Lord, Ernest Jones and Santander (formerly Abbey National).

Most of us of a certain age will fondly recall a number of shops no longer in Brent Cross. Remember those trendy 1970s fashions in C&A and Richard Shops? And what about Lucas Sports, Steiner, Dolcis, Etam and Cecil Gee? Did you stop for a snack in Lindy’s, or grab a bite to eat at The Picnic Basket? Later shops that came and went included Sephora, the cosmetics specialist and The Disney Store, always packed full of tiny princess wannabes exclaiming over the Cinderella lunchboxes and Aladdin mugs.

But what of the shops found in the centre today? Aside from the original retail outlets, there are 110 other shops of various sizes, stocking more than 2,000 luxury and designer brands.

The type of shop has changed too. A time traveller from 1976 would find the minimalist interior of the 2016 Apple store quite perplexing (let alone comprehend what it is selling). In 1976, the Spectra TV Rentals and Granada TV shops were about as technological as it got. Mobile phones were a distant dream and tablets were things you bought at the chemist. And what our visitor from the past would have made of Hollister is anyone’s guess. The interior — described on the Brent Cross website as “moodilylit” — is, to anyone over 30, too dark and too noisy. But then, it is not aimed at the older customer; we have plenty of other shops which suit us nicely.

The hungry are well catered for today, with 30 cafés and restaurants in the centre, including the kosher Kanteen, which is always packed with families.

Though it has to be said that even the food we purchase has changed dramatically in 40 years. Coffee shops in the form of Caffe Nero, Starbucks and Costa Coffee now satisfy our caffeine cravings, while Yo! Sushi, You Me Sushi and Wagamama indicate that our taste buds are more attuned to Asian cuisine than ever before.

And who would have thought that cupcakes would have dominated our lives in the way they do now? Lola’s has a huge, tempting selection for those in need of a quick sugar fix (that is, if you can’t find enough of them in Waitrose, a few metres away).

That’s the brilliant thing about Brent Cross. Many of the shops may have altered and tastes and trends have changed along with them but you will rarely leave empty-handed — there is something for everyone.