Over the last 20 years or so I have read/heard about the supposed decline of the Princes Street shopping experience. The debate is usually fuelled when the COEC are trying to trump up an excuse for buliding more retail space to generate more rates revenue.
There is no doubt that the Street has been blighted by some ugly 60/70's buildings but I am not sure that it was ever a great shopping street. Furthermore with the homogenised experience that is available in every large city and the accordant rent levels, I do not believe it ever will be.
Am I mistaken? Was PS ever a great shopping street?
Decline of Princes Street?
Re: Decline of Princes Street?
Yes, it was. In the sixties, that is 1960s! There were some really great shops and there were no empty ones!! And always very, very busy!Porty wrote:Over the last 20 years or so I have read/heard about the supposed decline of the Princes Street shopping experience. The debate is usually fuelled when the COEC are trying to trump up an excuse for buliding more retail space to generate more rates revenue.
There is no doubt that the Street has been blighted by some ugly 60/70's buildings but I am not sure that it was ever a great shopping street. Furthermore with the homogenised experience that is available in every large city and the accordant rent levels, I do not believe it ever will be.
Am I mistaken? Was PS ever a great shopping street?
Binns, C&A and Darlings to name a few of them! And even though there was a " Woolworths" at the east end, it didn't seem to downgrade the street in any way. I, for one used to really enjoy shopping on Princes Street way back then, but now, can't find a reason to want to come through from Linlithgow to shop there, which is really quite sad!
My aunt, upon whom I swear Barry Humphries modelled Dame Edna (when she was simply Mrs, housewife superstar) remembers the main drag (hem, hem) in the 60s so well, that she says her idea of heaven is to be let loose in Princes Street with a wallet full of money and all the time in the world to shop there.
Have not got the heart to enlighten her, but being in her 80s perhaps tottering between various M&S, Boots and mobile phone franchises is what she needs these days.
Have not got the heart to enlighten her, but being in her 80s perhaps tottering between various M&S, Boots and mobile phone franchises is what she needs these days.