From a mini Oxford Street to a shopping ghost town, just how much has Croydon changed over the years?
Croydon’s town centre has faced many challenges in recent years despite ongoing regeneration efforts.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the town was home to flagship stores like Allders, British Home Stores, Woolworths, and Debenhams.
Today, the Whitgift Centre and Centrale are still open, but they are a far cry from what they once were.
Back then, shoppers could buy everything from a suit to a sofa in one visit.
Now, visitors are more likely to find shutters, boarded-up glass, and shopfronts stripped of their signage.
Years of rising costs, economic uncertainty, and delays to the long-promised Westfield redevelopment have all taken their toll on the town centre.
Over the past few months, Your Local Guardian has been looking into the changes in Croydon’s shopping landscape.
Over the next week, we will be shedding light on the town centre’s empty units, speaking to local business owners, gathering shoppers’ views, and examining plans for future redevelopment.
You can look forward to personal insights from a former Allders employee, views from long-time Croydon residents and newer visitors, and what the Croydon Mayor and developers say about the road ahead.
Stay with us as we explore how shopping in Croydon has changed from the past, and what Croydon can expect in the future.
