In the era of out-of-town retail parks and websites offering goods at the click of a mouse, many high street shops are facing an uphill struggle to encourage shoppers through the doors.
But that certainly wasn’t the case 50 to 60 years ago when the city centre streets appeared to be constantly busy.
As these amazing photographs from the time show, the people of Dundee headed out in their droves to see what was on offer.
Shoppers, cars and buses lined the Murraygate as everyone made their way to the stores of the day many of them iconic Dundee names.
D M Brown drapery was one of the main firms on the street back in the Fifties and Sixties.
Many Dundonians will recall D M Brown when it became Arnotts. It was bought over by House of Fraser in 1952 and changed its name to Arnotts in 1972 along with other stores owned by House of Fraser. The shop is now the home of Spanish fashion chain Zara amongst others.
Murraygate favourite Smith Brothers a drapers and clothiers was popular with home dressmakers and frequently advertised a free pattern cutting-out service. Smith’s building is currently occupied by The Body Shop.
Another drapery on the shopping thoroughfare was G L Wilson. Gavin Laurie Wilson was born in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, in 1852. He had a “popular warehouse” in Cupar before opening what became G.L. Wilson’s Department Store in 1894. The store was located where Murraygate meets Commercial Street and was known as “The Corner”. Wilson died in 1932 but his son John was active in the business until his death in 1962.
What was G L Wilson now houses Accessorize, while the former Woolworth building is now home to Tesco.
One high street stalwart which has stood the test of time is Marks and Spencer, which remains in the same place as it did in 1961.
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