What is happening to us all?

[kayos]

I think our main shopping street is a microcosm of our economy/society in 300 yards. I don't know what made me look around this morning, but I wish I hadn't!

6 Bookies. (yes six!).

5 Shops for let.

4 Charity shops.

3 Pound shops.

3 Pawnbrokers.

2 Pubs.

1 Cash Converter.

1 Money shop.

We really do live in terrible times, quite, quite depressing.

[Darnc]

It a like that in my town we have a great choice of charity shops and mobile phone shops, we used to have too many shoe shops but now that where the charity shops have move into I believe the internet and supermarkets have spoiled the high street not to mention Christmas, Easter and all the bank holidays

[endurothumpers]

It a like that in my town we have a great choice of charity shops and mobile phone shops, we used to have too many shoe shops but now that where the charity shops have move into I believe the internet and supermarkets have spoiled the high street not to mention Christmas, Easter and all the bank holidays

Whilst I agree in part about the Internet lets not forget these huge supermarkets that has open'd up everywhere selling everything you can buy on the high street not just food but clothes,drink,cd's,dvd's,household appliances etc etc.These days if you want to compete or even just stay in business I think you must be on the Internet aswell as having the shop.

[kayos]

Whilst I agree in part about the Internet lets not forget these huge supermarkets that has open'd up everywhere selling everything you can buy on the high street not just food but clothes,drink,cd's,dvd's,household appliances etc etc.These days if you want to compete or even just stay in business I think you must be on the Internet aswell as having the shop.

Yup, my friend worked in his Father's butcher shop for 27 years, the shop was there for 52 years. His Father is now retired, the shop is closed and he works at the butcher's counter in Tesco! In Greenock we have around 70.000 people and we have 2 butcher shops left! Plus meat and veg are crap in Tesco and Morrisons.

[endurothumpers]

Yup, my friend worked in his Father's butcher shop for 27 years, the shop was there for 52 years. His Father is now retired, the shop is closed and he works at the butcher's counter in Tesco! In Greenock we have around 70.000 people and we have 2 butcher shops left! Plus meat and veg are crap in Tesco and Morrisons.

I've noticed with all these big supermarkets most of the meat is tasteless and the vegetables don't last two minutes before there rotten.when we get veg off the father in law from his allotment it lasts for ages and tastes great same as when we get meat from our local little butcher its got bags of flavour.

[northeast1]

I thought i was the only person that had noticed it.....i hate going into Gateshead centre now we have about the same everything a pound, cash shops, pawn shops, a couple of shops selling "out of date goods" a couple of pubs, a mini tesco, Neto and a few second hand shops. I know why i interent shop (the down fall of the high street really) or just go to the metro centre etc.

[Ian Alexander]

I thought i was the only person that had noticed it.....i hate going into Gateshead centre now we have about the same everything a pound, cash shops, pawn shops, a couple of shops selling "out of date goods" a couple of pubs, a mini tesco, Neto and a few second hand shops. I know why i interent shop (the down fall of the high street really) or just go to the metro centre etc.

You're not wrong there mate. When I was a kid I used to love going to Gateshead with my Mam and Dad. It was great, we would have our dinner in Shepherds and my Dad would take me to the Sarsaparilla shop whilst my Mam did some shopping.

I can remember my dad buying me a fishing rod from the downstairs sports department in Shepherds, it was a Milbro and I loved it....I must have been about 10 years old. Some of the best memories of my life.

I went to Gateshead high street a short while ago and it was very sad just like you say, I wanted to go to the Sarsaparilla shop but it was fenced off and they were knocking it down. I wonder what happened to the thick marble counter?

Some blame the Metro Centre for the demise of Gateshead but all our society has changed realy.

Regards Ian

[Darnc]

Richie did you mean pawn or porn shops maybe I'll have to have look around Gateshead and Ian your showing your age talking about shepherds I use to live going there just before Christmas

[fishingmark]

Breakfast with Santa at Shepherds near Christmas. Those were the days

[IANG]

Shops

I think our main shopping street is a microcosm of our economy/society in 300 yards. I don't know what made me look around this morning, but I wish I hadn't!

6 Bookies. (yes six!).

5 Shops for let.

4 Charity shops.

3 Pound shops.

3 Pawnbrokers.

2 Pubs.

1 Cash Converter.

1 Money shop.

We really do live in terrible times, quite, quite depressing.

You must have missed one mark,there must be a newsageants/off licence for the kids to get there fags and drink

[cod magnet]

Things are going to get a lot worse, with these torrie tossers in, rob the poor to pay the rich SCUM

[CHOPPER]

Every time I get yem Ashington has at least one more card shop!!

[northeast1]

Yer i got my first rod from there also. I remember going down as a kid before getting the metro to Shields and buying 3 leads, 5 hooks and a box of rag worm, they walking up stairs and getting a few fresh pies

[big sid]

I thought i was the only person that had noticed it.....i hate going into Gateshead centre now we have about the same everything a pound, cash shops, pawn shops, a couple of shops selling "out of date goods" a couple of pubs, a mini tesco, Neto and a few second hand shops. I know why i interent shop (the down fall of the high street really) or just go to the metro centre etc.

Richie as big as the Metro Centre is and the surrounding retail park its all let down by the lack of a Mega Tackle store I struggle every year trying to use the gift vouchers I recieve of Santa.

[big sid]

Richie did you mean pawn or porn shops maybe I'll have to have look around Gateshead and Ian your showing your age talking about shepherds I use to live going there just before Christmas

Its definately a Porn shop its where he goes for a massage and a little relief