Closing down signs appear at Woolwich WH Smiths
Image courtesy @pipycw
Closing down signs have appeared on WH Smith in Woolwich after decades in the town.
The Powis Street shop has been a mainstay in Woolwich for many years and now includes a Post Office which moved from a site on General Gordon Square.
That former site is now set to see a major housing development start this summer according to plans just submitted. That does not, however, mean the Post Office is moving there.
WH Smith closure
Closing isn’t a great surprise. WH Smith has been a business in which many wonder just how they’ve survived so long. Tatty stores and sky high prices.
It’s often the case that travel outlets at airports and stations do well (with very high prices) while High Street stores have gradually shut and suffer next to no investment. Woolwich certainly falls into that category.
Still, it’s sad to see. On a personal level I have many memories of the shop tied up with the fortunes of Woolwich itself so it’s all a bit symbolic.
Memories such as working in the town and visiting at lunch times to browse the shop’s gaming and DVD section at the rear of the ground floor, located where the Post Office is now situated.
Bought a Game Boy there half price which was my best find. This was the 2000s and the town had so little to recommend for a visit that I only even went in the shop as working there.
The game section, like much of the place, was often scarcely occupied and without the Post Office it’s likely it would have shut long ago.
Before that in the early 1990s as a child I’d head go in and head upstairs to the book section, and if the parents had a few quid would get one. This was back in the 1990s and Woolwich was on its arse then.
Even after Sunday trading rules were loosened and other town centres became busy on a Sunday I recall Woolwich being a ghost town. I think WH Smiths was one of the few shops that opened for some time and recall going cinema a few times at the old Coronet walking down Powis Street. Shut shop after shut shop on a Sunday when by law they could now open.
Improvement attempts
Greenwich Council have tried to improve Powis Street since the 1980s to gain more shoppers and we’re now on, what, the third attempt when it comes to new paving?
Though as the main photo at the top of the page shows the multi-million upgrade is already looking a mess outside WH Smiths and other areas.
In the recent past many retailers have left such as M&S and large stores are empty or became things like a Jobcentre. Appealing it wasn’t.
Other town centres like Lewisham and Bexleyheath have had ups and downs but were doing better in the 1990s – and still are despite much investment in Woolwich. After all, Lewisham can still attract a new Waterstones. Woolwich? It seems miles off.
For me WH Smiths may be a relic but it symbolises how badly Woolwich was doing for decades anyway – and sadly still is in some ways.
Not that it’s all bad. The western end of town around Hare Street is probably ok and sees fewer empty units than it has in previous decades.
But the section around the middle? Lots of potential unrealised.
Changes ahead?
Thousands more homes are planned or underway nearby which you’d think would rejuvenate the place. We’ll see. People thought that for years.
The town was never helped by major employers like the MOD leaving but it’s far from alone in London for seeing issues like that. How various authorities have managed it since leaves a lot to be desired.
Woolwich is one of of those towns with a fascinating past, much potential and yet is chronically mismanaged with problems across the board.
A lot of the problems are by no means unique to Woolwich. Social deprivation, shifts in shopping from the High Street, stalled developments etc but compare Woolwich to big centres in other boroughs such as Bromley, Bexleyheath, Lewisham etc and it’s not a good look.
It’s had the DLR, Elizabeth line, Olympics, multiple funding awards for the town centre, thousands of new homes and yet day-to-day management is so poor which does little to entice visitors.
This may or may not have made an impact on WH Smiths viability, but it will on what – if anything – takes its place and the future that has. As well as other shops in the area.
To give an example, in recent weeks we’ve seen town centre sites such as TfL land below – with long-dumped rubbish and passed by thousands each day – see laughably bad attempts to cover it up with murals.
Christ they could at least cover the whole fence if not intending to clean it up.
And why are TfL leaving eyesores all over the town anyway after 15 years? If you’re not going to build needed housing which would boost the town at least shield the sites.
How can anyone take pride in the place? Why would people want to visit somewhere so grotty?
Woolwich has always been a bit rough and ready and wasn’t exactly Kensington FFS, but at least do a bit to keep it half presentable. Make some effort.
Sadly the manager of that WH Smith store is extremely rude and I have observed him on many occasions being rude and impatient with older customers. The staff are quite unprofessional as well and have inappropriate conversations in public. So much so, I had to walk out with my friends son last week. The big Tesco sell great books for both adults and children alike.
The post office is also no great loss for convenience I guess people use it but the queues are ridiculous and the staff unpleasant. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind and it’s especially important when there is so much turmoil in the world right now.
I do miss that little M & S that was on Powis Street though!
Wow that pavement looks about 20 years old already outside WHS. Are they all stains outside the shop? That’s really poor and looks awful.
So many reasons people don’t go woolwich. Two murders in a week doesn’t do much to reassure even though both were some way from shops but all feeds into the terrible rep it has and it has a dodgy feel about it especially at night.
Sadly Woolwich continues to go downhill..The town Centre is not well managed. Public realm is not looked after.
That said I think it will be a shame to see WH Smith close. Where will the Post Office be located now,?
I think so much more can be done to improve Woolwich. Tackling anti social behaviour which blights Wookwich. Improving the appearance of the town centre and keeping it clean and public realm well maintained.
More shops could open later in the evenings to a least 8 pm on Monday ti Saturdays to allow more local people to shop locally. Improve the market with more stalls. Improve the lighting and make Wookwich a much safer area for people to want to visit again.
Woolwich remains a no go area for many people due to the high crime rate in the area. We must tackle the issue of crime and anti social behaviour full on..
The W H Smith Nugent Retail Park in St Mary Cray is also closing whilst the Marks & Spencer is going to increase in size by a significant amount.