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Remember the John Barnes store?!!!!!....
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Does anyone remember when there was a John Barnes on Finchley Road, my husband reckons I'm going mad as he says that the Waitrose has been there since the late 1960's - I know he's wrong! someone help me with this one please. If anyone can remember when it closed down let me know - thanks
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There was a John Barnes store where Waitrose is today until 1981 when it was divided into a Waitrose and Habitat, recently Habitat moved upto the O2 centre and Waitrose took the whole space. I remember the John Barnes store - it had 2 floors I think, my mum was always in the haberdashery department.
Gina -
Hi
Let me assure your husband that there was indeed a John Barnes store at Finchley Road, why they closed it down I will never know but I have fond memories of walking around the store (in the 60's) with my grandmother. It was there for many many years and lots of my friends can recall it, John Barnes was part of the John Lewis Partnership which includes Waitrose. -
I can add to that, I worked at the John Barnes Dept store for many years.
It was on three floors, the top two were dept store lines, and what is now the basement car park was a food hall, albeit a pretty basic one.
It was supposed to close when Brent Cross opened, but lasted as about another few years, before becoming a branch of Waitrose.
John Lewis Brent X was also originally going to be called John Barnes.
Ahh - Fond memories -
WOW ! Fond memories indeed. I worked as a Dispatch Clerk at JB in 1950 and moved rapidly up the ladder to be a Department Manager at another John Lewis store -- Peter Jones of Sloane Square -- two years later.
Decided the retail world was not for me and switched to engineering two years after that..
Moved to Canada in 1962, went back for a visit in 1975 Couldn't believe the changes around Hampstead, including the disappearance of JB.
BTW, the basement food department was one of the first in UK to switch to self-serve and everyone thought that this was the absolute end of civilization in Britain. A year later no one would have been willing to switch back to so-called personal service.
I wonder if The John Lewis Partnership is still in existance ...........
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I have the proof... was just googling the name as unknown to me & I came across your post... I am putting up a PPC (1918) of the store on eBay soon - in case anyone wants to look at the photo of the Barnes Store to take you back... (noreng2008) :-)
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John Barnes Ltd must have been there for a long time. I have some postcards from my father's family collection, which include cards between Winnie Baker and her mother in 1908. Winnie was addressed c/o John Barnes Ltd and her mother lived in Sutton, Surrey.
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I used to go there with my dad. Bernard Lee (m from bond and Jonny Lee Millers Grandad, used to take me for ice cream across the road in marine ices.)
The Bloke from the Yorkie ad used to drink tea in the cafe there too.
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I worked there, originally with what was known as the ( flying squad ) which meant helping out in different departments whenever needed.
After about a month I was offered a permanent position in the cosmetics dept. selling French Perfumes.
I remember the day it was announced that John Barnes would cease to trade, a very sad day for a lot of people, especially those who were there for many years. -
Hi,
I worked at John Barnes between 1974 and 1978 and Steve Kershaw, who is on this site, was my manager! It was my first job and I worked in the radio and tv dept.
I remember him very clearly, he was like Richard Dreyfuss...I was there when the famous storm of August 14th 1976, my birthday. I spent the evening trapped in the store instead of being out celebrating... -
John Barnes was the first true self service supermarket in this country, don't believe what Tescos say.
I know this for a fact because my Father , Charles Hennesy, was the Food Department Manager.
I am not sure of the exact date of the change from counter service but it was around 1952. -
My Mother Worked at JB between 1957 to 1967.Can any one confirm if she is entitled to a pension from JB for working this period as we were only just discussing this the other day.
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Hence why the waitrose on Finchley road is still called "Waitrose John Barnes" today. There's a big sign out in front .
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I lived in Swiss Cottage from 1965-1978 and John Barnes did indeed exist! It was an Aladdin's Cave,old type department store and I vividly remember huge rolls of fabrics,numerous buttons,sequins,ribbons etc in the haberdashery dept.Often browsed there on my way home from school when I got off tube at Finchely Road Stn.Aah....memories! Ann
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Hi dave - I remember you too, it all seems like another world now.
I left JB because couldn't get on with the then store manager Richard Jacobs, he died quite young some time ago I believe.
I went on to do many jobs after leaving JB, though not in retailing - too many to mention.
John Barnes Waitrose is one of the best Waitrose stores there is, I only wish the parking was easier - you try manouvering a Volvo V70 round the old food hall ! -
I used to visit John Barnes in the 1950s to get my feet measured in one of those x-ray machines that glowed a green light and showed up the bones in your feet, then Mum used to buy me a new pair of 'sensible' Start Rite or Clarks shoes. My aunt's best friend used to live in an apartment above or next to the store, as her husband was one of the directors of the John Lewis Partnership.
Cressida -
My great aunt and uncle lived in an apartment above John Barnes, he was the porter in the 1970's, we would visit and be taken on tours of the opulent building and views of London from the roof.. ah.....
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Hi,
I don't personally remember the John Barnes store as Im too young but my great grandfather used to supply hand painted lampshades to the store in the 1950s/60's. His business was TK Nakamura. I was wondering if anyone remembers these from the store of remembers the business he had. It too was in swiss cottage!