O/T Bens toy shop.

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:36 pm

Where exactly was bens toy shop? The reason I ask is because I spotted a debate earlier on you know where and a lot are saying where Frydays chippy is now and a few like myself said it was slightly further up. I couldnt find any old photos so i thought this sote could help settle the debate. Cheers all.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:39 pm

I didn't even know Burnley had a Frydays. What was the place called opposite TJ Hughes, near St Peter's Sports centre... or was that Ben Sports?

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:41 pm

Bens toy shop was above their leather (?) shop almost directly opposite Haffners butchers on the other side of the road, with funny oblong windows.

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:42 pm

Benn's.

- you talking about Cocker's?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:42 pm

It was Benns and I'm sure it was further up than Frydays, closer to Croft Street.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:42 pm

hampsteadclaret wrote:Benn's.

- you talking about Cocker's?

No - Benns.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:42 pm

I have a vague memory of it before then, somewhere upstairs on Manchester Road (early 60's.) When opposite Haffners I think it was the first shop after the bend.

Damo · Post by **Damo** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:42 pm

I could be wrong, but to my mind it was slightly further up (possibly next door) in one of the larger shops, but moved into the shop that is now Frydays before it closed

cbx750 · Post by **cbx750** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:43 pm

Ben's was further up but then moved to where Frydays chippy is now when they needed a smaller shop.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:43 pm

ClaretTony wrote:No - Benns.

Muphry’s Law

ChrisG · Post by **ChrisG** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:44 pm

It was in 2 separate locations I recall. One was the chippy now, the other was the larger one next to Moonlight which was latterly DJST hairdressers.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:48 pm

I've just grabbed this from Google Maps - wasn't Benns to the left of where Frydays is now?

: Benns.jpg (64.24 KiB) Viewed 5134 times

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:51 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I've just grabbed this from Google Maps - wasn't Benns to the left of where Frydays is now?

I thought that was a music shop, where they sold vinyls upstairs.

Rumbletonk · Post by **Rumbletonk** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:54 pm

Benns was opposite kierby walk. It was once over 2 floors. 2 floors of joy and magic. My parents had a kids clothes shop facing it

Goody1975 · Post by **Goody1975** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:54 pm

As mentioned above, both people are right.

They downsized and moved to where Frydays are now, i'd guess at the early 1990's.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:54 pm

It was a two storey shop and had a large window display.
Is it now a hairdressers? It was in the large place just past Frydays.

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:56 pm

Goody1975 wrote:As mentioned above, both people are right.

They downsized and moved to where Frydays are now, i'd guess at the early 1990's.

It would have been at the turn of the century. I stopped with my parents there as a kid growing up in the 90s.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:57 pm

I've just done some digging around and found this: Benn's Toy Shop.
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/end- ... s-1-167140" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It closed in 2006. More digging found this address:

Benn's Toy Centre
4 St James Street
Burnley
BB11 1NG

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:58 pm

Yes that is the same address for frydays.

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:00 pm

Loved going to Benns as a kid, standing in front of the Subutteo display trying to decide which team or accessories to buy next

Darthlaw · Post by **Darthlaw** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:04 pm

I remember buying various models of plastic replica 'cap guns', over the years, in there in the mid 90's. They had a hell of a selection.

Pretty sure they would all be illegal now, they were that realistic.

Rumbletonk · Post by **Rumbletonk** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:06 pm

They were definitely a few doors up originally then downsized to where Frydays is now. Haffners and Benns within 100 yards of one another, perfect

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:08 pm

ClaretTony wrote:It was Benns and I'm sure it was further up than Frydays, closer to Croft Street.

Cirrect

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:09 pm

Got my silk scarf there in the early 70s, cos the club either didn't have any yet, or ran out.

1968claret · Post by **1968claret** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:13 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I've just grabbed this from Google Maps - wasn't Benns to the left of where Frydays is now?

Benns.jpg

Benns was originally in the grey shops to the left. I think it occupied what are now two separate shops. Downstairs sold leather handbags, boots etc. Upstairs was the toy shop.
When they downsized they moved into the shop that is now Fridays

welsbyswife · Post by **welsbyswife** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:21 pm

wilks_bfc wrote:Loved going to Benns as a kid, standing in front of the Subutteo display trying to decide which team or accessories to buy next

Similar memories for me wilks_bfc. Still got my Subutteo stuff in the loft somewhere, including floodlights and fencing to go round the pitch, much of it bought from Benn's. Think I even had a chap with a television camera on a stand. Loved Subutteo.

4:20 · Post by **4:20** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:22 pm

Used to love going upstairs in Benn's, ceiling to floor with allsorts of weird and wonderful toys, their stinkbombs were potent, great for school and the bus.

Walton · Post by **Walton** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:39 pm

I remember Benns being in the long building on the left of Tony's picture, but I also remember a sports shop, with a big wooden shelving unit behind the counter containing all the smaller items like corkies.

Was that in the left hand side building, or did they have the frydays building simultaneously? I remember them being in frydays building too you see.

The toy shop became a skate shop called East Village, and had a small record shop upstairs which used to have decent hip hop and breaks.

Working_Class_Zero · Post by **Working_Class_Zero** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:41 pm

: 485661_3e4f4460.jpg (56.72 KiB) Viewed 4908 times

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:43 pm

The Fridays shop used to be Benns sports shop and to the left was Benns leather shop and next to that was the toy shop.
My mate used to work in the sports shop from 1990 till about 93

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:46 pm

So which was the shop near St Peter's? As you walk out of St Peter's and walk right, you hit a shop on your right. I just remember buying a football from there, so it must have been some kind of sport shop.

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:49 pm

Cockers sports original location

Walton · Post by **Walton** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:50 pm

FactualFrank wrote:So which was the shop near St Peter's? As you walk out of St Peter's and walk right, you hit a shop on your right. I just remember buying a football from there, so it must have been some kind of sport shop.

Cockers

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:56 pm

Ahhh, yeah that's it. Cheers.

iluva64 · Post by **iluva64** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:56 pm

From the Express 2006

Jimmymaccer · Post by **Jimmymaccer** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 7:59 pm

Blimey, “where was Benns toy shop”!,,

Many a happy hour in the 70’s at the one round the corner from the chippy......

Remember buying,
Silk BFC scarf
Hot Wheels
Subbuteo BFC team and World Cup edition with floodlights
Joe 90 car
A Spectrum car from Captain Scarlett

To name but a few

Before going home to watch Magpie!

Eloise Laws · Post by **Eloise Laws** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:00 pm

I thought Benn's had 2 shops side by side originally, one being the toy shop over 2 floors, then the leather shop next door - then when they downsized and closed the leather goods shop they moved the toy shop into what is now the Frydays???

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:02 pm

They had all three shops all side by side for a long time, the Frydays shop was the sports shop.

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:02 pm

Definitely where Frydays currently is.

You don't forget where you got Megatron from.

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:05 pm

What year would that be Jedi Master?

Claretforever · Post by **Claretforever** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:05 pm

Loved going in Benn's as a kid in the 1980's. My mum used to let me have a look in but considered it "bloody expensive" compared with other shops. Didn't it have a 'Toy Master' sign above the door?

I also seem to recall another toy shop, which I think was called Zodiac? Can't remember much about it really. Anyone shed any light?

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:06 pm

Yes zodiac was near the big fountain in the square

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:07 pm

Underneath Wimpy

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:08 pm

69 WALLOP wrote:What year would that be Jedi Master?

Guessing early 90's? I was obssessed with Transformers from about 1990 for five or six years. Pretty sure my parents got me Optimus Prime from Woolies for Christmas, and Megatron from Benns for my birthday.

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:09 pm

Claretforever wrote:Loved going in Benn's as a kid in the 1980's. My mum used to let me have a look in but considered it "bloody expensive" compared with other shops. Didn't it have a 'Toy Master' sign above the door?

I also seem to recall another toy shop, which I think was called Zodiac? Can't remember much about it really. Anyone shed any light?

Wasn't Zodiac a tattoo parlour/seller of various crystal products (and I don't mean meth).

Eloise Laws · Post by **Eloise Laws** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:10 pm

They had all three shops all side by side for a long time, the Frydays shop was the sports shop.

Ah yes, I had forgotten about the sports shop!!

Zodiac Toys was in the corner of the Marker Sq, as someone has already pointed out - under the Wimpy.......hmmmm Brown Derbys, donut, ice cream Choc sauce and nuts!!

69 WALLOP · Post by **69 WALLOP** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:11 pm

No Zodiac was definitely a toy shop in the market square where the entertainer shop is now.

Eloise Laws · Post by **Eloise Laws** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:14 pm

Zodiac tattoo and crystal shop, completely different shop on St James St lower down than Burtons/Dorothy Perkins......the old Bull Hotel!

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:14 pm

69 WALLOP wrote:No Zodiac was definitely a toy shop in the market square where the entertainer shop is now.

This might be mental then, but was there two shops called ZoDiac in Burnley? The one I am thinking of could actually still be there...same side as Burtons/Rhode Island Coffee, across from Natwest-ish.

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:14 pm

Eloise Laws wrote:Zodiac tattoo and crystal shop, completely different shop on St James St lower down than Burtons/Dorothy Perkins......the old Bull Hotel!

Thanks for clarifying, I thought I was dreaming it.