[quote\]I remember C & A or Coats and Ats as we used to call it. They were a Dutch company I believe with an unpronouncable name. Yes, the stuff in there was cheap but reasonable quality, not like Primark. I visited Primark when I was in London recently - what a mess!!!![/quote]
Unfortunately the average high street including Bromley and Lewisham has more poor quality type of clothing stores now than any other type.
In Bromley. You Have Primark, Select, Peacock, bay trading, New Look, Clobber. TKMaxx.
There is a Debenhams, British Home Stores, Evans, Next, Marks and Spencer and a few others but no House of Frasier or anything left.
In Lewisham it’s pretty similar in the cheap shops. There is only a small Next, Marks and Spencer, British homes store, and again no House of Frasier.
Bexleyheath is also pretty similar.
The only reason in my opinion why the older shopper still goes to these places is routine, it where they have always gone and they don’t want to change, that and the markets. Lewisham still has it fruit market every day but Monday(I think) and Bromley still has it market on a Thursday. Grove Park Market is long gone.
It’s as if they are trying to turn people away from the High street, by producing high Fashion low quality clothes that will only last the season. Getting the young Market who are not quite brand aware, but want a similar rara skirt to the one Jlo is wearing. Obviously by the time they are 17-18 they want the Prada, or Ted baker so unless they are on benefit and can't secure a credit card they also head way from the high streets.
There is an out of town shopping complex Called Bluewater near where I live in Dartford and they have all the Designer shops, and a John Lewis, House of Frasier, and Marks and Spencer. They don't have stores like Woolworth or Argos, so at Christmas time it’s back to places like Bromley to buy stuff for the kids.