Nostalgic memories were shared by a dozen as new images revealed the shattered insides of Nottingham’s historic Broadmarsh Center.
From BHS and Wilko to Fopp Music and Wimpy, Nottingham’s Broadmarsh Center has been home to a variety of very popular retail stores and restaurants.
The Duke of Gloucester opened the doors of the Broadmarsh Center for the first time in 1975, and when the giant intu of the mall began redeveloping the historic site, he fell into the hands of management and consequently tossed all plans to the wind.
Nottinghamshire Live was granted access to the website on Friday 21 May 2021 and the mall looks almost unrecognizable except for a few outstanding landmarks.
Many stores closed in 2019, including the hugely popular burger restaurant Wimpy, which closed its store on January 4th after 43 years.
The owner and manager, Akram Malik, said at the time that he had to close the doors because the last day of trading was very busy.
Now the only lasting memory of the burger restaurant is a single table where all the walls and signage were completely torn down while the mall was being stripped.
When Fiona Disney responded to the news on the Nottinghamshire Live Facebook page, she wrote, “I’m pretty sad about Wimpy’s. I ate there with my mom when we met in town, they have great eggs and fries made and even brought it to your table on real plates! “
Meanwhile, household retailer Wilko was one of the last to shut down the following year for health reasons.
The store was recently completely waterproofed, but is now completely empty and in total darkness.
Helen Martin said, “So sad I chose Broadmarsh over Victoria Center. It had more character.”
Wayne Wayne wrote, “Broadmarsh was like a time machine. When I walked into the store, it was like traveling back to the 80s.
“Will be missed.”
And Maureen Hooper added, “Tinted with a little sadness. Memories of the times I went through on my way to Crown Post Offices and sometimes to TUC meetings for women.
“Even then, recalls the loss of Low Pavement BO in a Broadmarsh Co-op franchise”
The demolition of the condemned Broadmarsh Center will soon begin as part of a “crucial” step in the redevelopment of the site.
From mid-June, the construction company Willmott Dixon will begin preparatory work on the west side of the old Broad Marsh site on which the former shopping mall is located. Therefore, the current passage from Collin Street to Lister Gate has to be relocated.
Preparatory work will begin in mid-June, before demolition begins in summer and will last until spring next year.