Gone Shopping 2

London shops: RIP Flip

Jill from N8 has fond memories of Flip. "The arrival of Flip (American vintage clothing) on the London shopping scene at the end of the 70s coincided nicely with the Rockabilly revival, cheap chic at it's best. There were branches in three key locations; Covent Garden, King's Road and Shoreditch. The latter was a far cry from the uber cool district it is today but interestingly held the best stock. It was mostly frequented by the cognoscenti hankering after a bygone era and students from the London College of Fashion next door. The stock was considered too esoteric for the other two branches which catered for a more mainstream clientele.

Glad rags at midnight

"The Covent Garden branch was unusual in that it remained open until midnight every night except Sunday. Therein lay its appeal. Long after the pubs had called last round, the Long Acre branch would still be pumping out loud music and wooing the customers. Even at that late hour, who could resist rail upon rail of glad rags that hadn't seen the light of day for thirty years? The night was young and impromptu transformations were the norm. Whether it be a Schiaparelli dress for a tenner or a fifties satin party frock for a few quid more, it was time to ditch the Bobo Kaminsky jeans in favour of more singular attire. Try it on, keep it on, pay for it (although a lot of Flip habitu�s skipped that bit), then sashay on down to the Wag club feeling like a million dollars. Sadly, Flip went into receivership in 1985. The Long Acre site continued to trade for several years under new ownership but lacked the appeal (and vintage clothing) of the original. The Timberland store now trades at that address."

London shops: RIP Jones Brothers - chain in vain

A retail therapist laments the closure of a suburban department store with a touch of class: "Jones Brothers, Holloway Road, is a sadly missed example of the fast disappearing department store. A beacon of taste and sensible style amongst a haphazard, downmarket shopping parade, its mixture of old wooden panelling and bizarre layout (having to exit the store to locate different departments) can and could not be reproduced anywhere else. It was a haven of calmness and sophistication away from the dirty, noisy Holloway Road.

"I used to meet my Grandma there who would travel from Stamford Hill on the trusty 253 just for the shopping pleasure (even though she preferred James Selby, a few doors down). So strong was public opinion against its closure that residents made a human ring around the store, but sadly the power of food won out and like John Barnes in in Finchley Road, Jones Brothers is now a Waitrose."

Off the record in Whitechapel

One of our readers has alerted us to the closure in October of Whitechapel record outlet, Paul for Music, which apparently has been in business for 50 years. That is pretty impressive. Did you buy your vinyl there? Email us and tell us what it was like.

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Messages

Message:	6/6
Date and time:	21/03/2008 at 04:55:09
Sender:	Unknown

Sorry, but what is kimerikas? Jane.

Message:	5/6
Date and time:	27/10/2007 at 20:55:08
Sender:	curious

Who is/was Bobo Kaminsky?

Message:	4/6
Date and time:	03/07/2007 at 00:39:52
Sender:	Chasefield

Sorry, should have made it clear I was talking about Jones Brothers. Trying to find the name of the last manager.

Message:	3/6
Date and time:	03/07/2007 at 00:38:01
Sender:	Chasefield

Can anyone tell me who the manager of the store was at the time of closure, please?

Message:	2/6
Date and time:	12/09/2006 at 18:20:22
Sender:	DJ Witness

Paul 4 Music was the absolute plums of a record shop. I shopped there from 97 til it closed. A very Sad Loss. Dave was a top man, always very helpful. Dave - Where are you?!?!? I heard you set up a website? Whats it called?!?! Nick

Message:	1/6
Date and time:	15/07/2006 at 19:14:16
Sender:	dave

Yes I used Paul for music in Whitechapel from 1982 to 1992. Paul retired but his son David took over the business, the best record shop in the East end for back catalogue items and up to the minute releases always helpful and you felt like you were part of the family rather than a customer. A very sad loss these shops are few and far between these days. Good luck to David in whatever he has chosen to do.