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Singers Outdoors in Preston city centre announces decision to close

Posted on - 15th January, 2016 - 7:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Business, Preston City Centre, Preston News
Singers Outdoors has begun a closing down sale Pic: Tony Worrall

Singers Outdoors has begun a closing down sale Pic: Tony Worrall

An outdoor clothing shop in Preston city centre has begun to close its doors.

Singers Outdoors, a family firm who have been a fixture of Lancaster Road for decades, are beginning to ‘wind down’ on the high street according to its owner.

Theodore Singer, 62, said his approaching retirement meant he couldn’t retain a physical shop for much longer but would continue to trade online.

He said: “I’m a one man band now, so the shop is going to close.

“There’s no date set yet but I will definitely be trading until the summer.

“After that it will all be online. That’s retail. Ask anyone out there.

“But we’re well known in Preston for providing good quality and great service.”

In previous years Singers has cut down to the one city centre shop, after closing a Blackpool Road store.

A little history of the area of origin for Singer’s Army Stores.

For those who are old enough to remember, the following two images show the Singer’s Army Stores on Lancaster Road as it was in the 1960’s before that area of buildings was demolished to make way for the new Ringway. From that time onwards, this effectively split the northern part of Lancaster Road in the foreground from the southern part in the background. The only building that survives today is Lancastria House (Well, for the present time, that is), whose tower can be seen in the left distance.

Southward view of former Slingers shop along Lancaster Road at Walker Street intersection

View of former Singers shop along Lancaster Road at Walker Street intersection 1962. Pic: Preston Digital Archive

Southeast view of former Slinger's Army Stores on the corner of Lancaster Road and Walker Street

View of former Singer’s Army Stores on the corner of Lancaster Road and Walker Street. 1967. Pic: Preston Digital Archive

To the left side of the above image the former Wesleyan North Road Church which by 1967 had become the North Road Pentecostal Church and later, Preston City Church. The rear of Saul Street Baths can be seen in the centre of the image and the new roundabout at Lund Street, Walker Street and Lancaster Road, Preston.

Speeding buses blight location

Mr Singer has strong views on the state of the city centre.

He said: “Everyone knows Lancaster Road is a secondary location, always has been, but they do need to do something about the buses.

“They come flying along there. There’s no real parking so you’re carting stock in for deliveries and the buses really get speed up on there.

“I think there needs to be a speed limit of 15mph.

“With the Fishergate changes I just really don’t understand why they’ve carried on letting buses down there.

“Someone will get badly hurt at some point.”

Going, going…

The Singers store has a number of items at knock down prices as Mr Singer continues to reduce his stock.

He said: “I don’t think I can retire for a few years.

“We have an online store set up but I’ve not really put too much effort into that yet.

“But with how the retail trade is going, and how my knees feel, it just seems like the right time to make this change. I can’t keep the regular hours needed.

“As it’s just me if I need to go and do something else then the shop won’t open.”

Did you ever shop at Singers? Any memories? Let us know in the comments below

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