The Arnotts store in Dundee closed its many doors for the last time at 5pm on January 4 2003.
Among the bargain-hunters were a few who made the journey to have a final look inside the building for purely sentimental reasons.
Mohammed Bhatti from Broughty Ferry said the sense of loss was acute.
He said: “I moved here from Kenya when I was very young in 1973 and my first ever Christmas present came from this store.
“It was a teddy bear and I still have it now.
“Now I’m a dad and I’ve enjoyed buying gifts for my son here.”
It was indeed the end of an era.
The building at 80 High Street began its trading life in 1888 as a one-windowed shop under David Miller Brown, the son of a coal merchant, who then expanded D. M. Brown to become one of Scotland’s greatest department stores.
Previously, shops had been specialist in nature, but with the opening of DM’s – with its many different departments – that was something that changed forever in Dundee.
By the time it celebrated its golden jubilee in 1938, D. M. Brown boasted a famous “indoor street” arcade, and a pillared tearoom featuring Byzantine glass, carved Italian marble and the greatest sheet of curved glass ever manufactured.
This was all during the halcyon days of Dundee’s “big four” department stores which included G. L. Wilson, Draffens and Smith Brothers.
DM’s, as it was affectionately known, was taken over by the House of Fraser in 1952 and eventually expanded into the vast emporium that became Arnotts in 1972.
When G. L. Wilson’s closed in 1972, Sir Garnet Wilson remarked: “The day that Marks & Spencer entered Dundee the writing was on the wall.”
Thirty years on, the Arnotts store closure was announced in June 2002.
There had been no suggestion by House of Fraser that it was planning a programme of store disposals in Scotland which also included its Aberdeen and Perth outlets.
The company’s annual report showed sales up 13% and pre-tax profits of £25.6 million but these stores no longer fitted in with the group’s long-term plans.
Why was the Dundee Arnotts closing?
House of Fraser would gain £10.5 million for selling its Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen stores, resulting in a net loss for the company of £5.5 million.
It would face another £1.5 million in closure costs.
The Dundee store would close in January 2003 with the loss of 180 jobs after being taken over by Prestwick-based Dawn Group for division into several retail units.
Dawn Group was founded in 1972 and was one of Scotland’s largest privately-owned firms. Its subsidiary Dawn Developments would lead the Arnotts project.
Managing director Alan Macdonald said: “Part of the reason for the closures is that House of Fraser believes that the internal design and layout of the stores doesn’t meet today’s retailing requirements.
“It is therefore particularly important that the appearance of the building is maintained and enhanced and we believe our proposals will help breathe new life into one of Dundee’s premier shopping locations.”
The firm would keep the façade of Arnotts and locate three shops over five floors.
House of Fraser’s chief executive John Coleman said the company intended to help its employees find alternative employment towards the end of the year.
He said: “We have already started communication and consultation with staff via employee representatives and will keep them fully informed as we move through the closure programme.
“We will be making contact with local employers at the appropriate time to seek alternative employment for staff and will communicate vacancies to all staff.
“They will also receive details of all vacancies in our other stores. All staff who are declared redundant will also receive a copy of a booklet in the autumn, giving practical advice and ideas on all aspects of job search.”
On the day of its closure in 2003, the Arnotts workforce gathered on the shop floor at 5pm to raise a glass and say goodbye to the store.
After 42 years’ service, the store’s longest serving employee Isabel Keith was given the honour of locking the doors for the final time.
Lynsey Webster, from Dundee, was the last ever customer at Arnotts.
She said: “Dundee city centre won’t be the same.”
Store manager Craig Stevenson expressed the views of many when he said: “It’s very sad to see a building of such character close down.
“I know it has been a part of Dundee’s history.”
Taking to verse in tribute
The demise of Arnotts evoked many memories to the letters pages of The Courier and the Evening Telegraph from customers who had grown up with the store.
Mrs Blackwood from Newport remarked how her grandfather, David Lee, worked in the drapery department with David Brown before starting his own business.
Her aunt joined the firm shortly after it opened when she was 20 as an assistant, and eventually became the buyer for the children’s department, retiring at the age of 60.
Her mother and father also worked at the store and, in fact, her father was still holding the reins when he died aged 70. He was a correspondence clerk and he personally wrote letters to all customers in connection with the mail-order side of the business.
This did not go unnoticed.
After her father’s death Miss Blackwood and her mother received several letters from customers whose only link with my father had been his signature at the end of the mail order letters.
They had seen his death notice in The Courier and wanted the family to know how much they appreciated his helpfulness and friendliness.
M. Dudgeon from Dundee took to verse with a poem entitled Those Were The Days.
“Alas! Alas! It is no more,
“Gone is our House of Fraser store.
“The last of the great triumvirate,
“Which ruled the corners with dignified state.
“Wilsons where I bought stockings fine,
“The boss would give you a smile benign.
“Smiths where I got many a bargain,
“Their range of goods one cannot imagine!
“And while we’re at it let us recall – Henderson, Mackays, Draffens, Hunter’s stores.
“Giving our town variety of a high score.
“With well-trained assistants, all in black,
“A joy to be served with such eclat!
“This range of choice we have no more,
“So, with nostalgia, I’ll say ‘Goodbye’ to Arnotts store!”
Conversation