What's your Woolworths now?

What's your Woolworths now?

The Angel, Islington, is probably best-known as one of the cheaper (pale blue to be precise) property locations on the Monopoly board. In real life, this socially diverse corner of north London houses one of the best markets in the capital (Chapel), an eclectic mix of shops and is my shopping and stomping ground.

Like other local residents I was distraught when, in summer 2008, I learned we would be losing our Woolworths store, well before the company closed for good in the run up to last Christmas. The area is one of the most socially deprived in London and local families had traditionally beat a path to Woolies' door for its unbelievably cheap but good quality stationery, presents for children of all ages and DVDs.

The news that it was going to re-open as a Waitrose was also met with incredulity. It was hardly what the area was crying out for. The store is slap-bang between a recently refurbished Marks & Spencer with a large food hall, and a Sainsbury's - one of the busiest in the UK and also the subject of a recent, expensive makeover.

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And while this grocery triangle battles it out, there's still nowhere to match the old Woolies for party bags, affordable toys and art equipment for kids. The nearest stationery shops are Paperchase (too expensive for the basics) and Rymans (too far).

Perhaps we only now truly appreciate what we had in Woolies because it has gone. We may not all mourn the filling-zinging pick and mix, but where else could you get cheap, good quality kitchen equipment such as frying pans? Earlier this year an emergency dash for some green Dylon (don't ask) led to a extended mission that was only accomplished a mile away in a hardware shop.

Since Woolworths' demise around 60% of its stores have been filled by value retailers such as Poundland and the 99p Store, while Waitrose and other 'express' supermarkets have taken others. Claire Robertson, a former manager of the Dorchester branch of Woolworths, reopened in the same premises as Wellworths in March this year and is now planning a second store. Three branches of a new-look chain 'Alworths' are due to open in the home counties today. A Flickr group called Closure of Woolworths shows what some stores have become.

Did you lose a Woolies in your area and, if so, what replaced it? Have you learned to live without it? We'd like to hear, and see how your high street has changed. Please tell us below, and if you would like to send us your photos for us to publish on the site, please do. The email address is j.insley@observer.co.uk.

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