Stafford Woolworths – Store 320 – Woolies Buildings

18 Market Square, Stafford

Woolworths opened their 320th store in Stafford on 23rd June 1928. It was at 18 Market Square, in a building full of character. You can see the store on the right here, next to the building works.

Source: Staffordshire Past Track

In 1962, it was intended for Woolworths to move to a bigger purpose-built store at Gaolgate Street and for the Market Square store to close. (Source: Soult’s Retail View)

The store number of 320 was transferred to the new store. But for some reason Woolworths decided to keep the old store open. With the store number given to the new branch, the Market Square store had to be assigned a new number, and that was store number 1067. You can see the original store open in this 1972 photo.

Stafford Woolworths (Market Square) 1972

Source: Stoke on Trent Live

The Market Square store closed in the 1970s, soon after the above photo was taken. Presumably it was decided that Stafford did not need two Woolworth stores. The building still exists today and it was until quite recently a River Island. But they have moved and the unit is currently empty.

Stafford (Market Square) Former Woolworths

18 – 19 Gaolgate Street, Stafford

On to the second branch which was the new store 320. It opened at 18-19 Gaolgate Street on 22nd March 1962. The building had a typical 1960s look with the little windows in a row on the first floor. The main entrance was on Gaolgate Street, and the back entrance was on Princes Street. Both entrances looked similar, but the front had 5 upper windows whereas the back had 6.