Morden Woolworths calls time (From Your Local Guardian)

Morden Woolworths calls time

7:10am Wednesday 7th January 2009 in Wimbledon By Ben Thompson

After more than 70 years of trading, Woolworths in Morden shut its doors for the last time on Monday, leaving only one surviving shop from the original town centre built in 1932.

The Morden branch is one of three in the borough to close after the retail chain went into administration with debts of £385m in November.

Gilby’s menswear, Morden’s only remaining independent retailer established in the town centre, shut up shop in April leaving Boots as the only shop from the 30s yet to close down.

Local historian Bill Hobbs said: “It’s sad to see the high street just keep disappearing like this.

“Woolworths was pretty much the final icon of a healthy shopping area and now it seems there are only charity shops and fast food restaurants left.

“The problem with Morden is that it reached a peak some time ago and now it seems to be dying on its feet. It used to be a fashionable area that people would come to visit - with features like the old cinema it was a vibrant place.”

“Woolworths was pretty much the final icon of a healthy shopping area and now it seems there are only charity shops and fast food restaurants left."

Bill Hobbs

He added: “I suppose the question now has to be, is the area in terminal decline like a lot of other high streets out there?”

Stephen Alambritis, a Merton councillor and head of public affairs of the Federation of Small Businesses, said 2009 would be a hard time for Morden and expected further shop closures.

“It’s gutting to see Woolworths go, especially since the store was completely refurbished just last year,” he said.

“Seeing that large empty space will be difficult, but it’s important to try and attract a new business to the site.”

However he added that there was hope on the horizon as momentum gathers on the More Morden project to regenerate the town centre.