First Supermarkets in Burnley

[Bertiebeehead]

My dad worked at Safeway in the late 70s/early 80s, my sister and I used to go with him sometimes to let in the night shift. I can remember playing with the trolleys up and down the aisle and playing with the intercom system.
Happy days.

[kindonesque]

Good shout for Taskers at the back of Plumbe Street. My introduction to paid work stacking shelves.

[lesxdp]

It's where Calico is now but there was a Safeway on St. James' Street before then, roughly where McDonald's is now.

Sorry but it wasn't Where McDonalds is was first Coopers which became Tesco.

Safeway came to what was built as Safeway House with the Inland Revenue upstairs now all Calico.

See post 39. I never comment on anyones ability to manage a football team but I do know about management of a supermarket

[tim_noone]

Sorry but it wasn't Where McDonalds is was first Coopers which became Tesco.

Safeway came to what was built as Safeway House with the Inland Revenue upstairs now all Calico.

See post 39. I never comment on anyones ability to manage a football team but I do know about management of a supermarket

You didn't manage them that good.....they've all gone? More reasons to shop at more reasons

[ClaretTony]

Sorry but it wasn't Where McDonalds is was first Coopers which became Tesco.

Safeway came to what was built as Safeway House with the Inland Revenue upstairs now all Calico.

See post 39. I never comment on anyones ability to manage a football team but I do know about management of a supermarket

Thanks for correcting me, it was Tesco and not Safeway on St. James' Street. One of the lads in our class at school used to shelf fill there.

On the subject of Safeways, I think that was being built around 1964 because I seem to have this memory of Burnley Cricket Club using the hoardings to advertise Charlie Griffith as the new pro. I also think it was the first building in Burnley to have automatic doors.

[lesxdp]

You didn't manage them that good.....they've all gone? More reasons to shop at more reasons

Aye but I had "retired" before the Morrisons takeover thankfully. What a mess they made of it as well.

[lesxdp]

My dad worked at Safeway in the late 70s/early 80s, my sister and I used to go with him sometimes to let in the night shift. I can remember playing with the trolleys up and down the aisle and playing with the intercom system.
Happy days.

What was your dads name? I moved on from the Burnley store in 78, but may well have known him.

[Bertiebeehead]

What was your dads name? I moved on from the Burnley store in 78, but may well have known him.

Stephen Pye, I think both my uncles worked there at some point as well, Graham and Ian.

[LifeafterRobbie]

In the late 70's, I remember my Mam used to make a tour of at least 3 Supermarkets (Taskers, Safeway, CoOp) to get the best deals and make her 'housekeeping' go as far as possible. She knew, to the half penny (yes, we had them then) what each shop charged for Beans, Peas, potatoes, baking stuff etc. and used to keep a note in a little book.
Thursday was her shopping day, as it was my Dad's day off. He used to have to drive her around to each one..............poor bugger
They were different times, most definitely!

[lesxdp]

Stephen Pye, I think both my uncles worked there at some point as well, Graham and Ian.

Thought it must have been. Have known Ian since we were both sixteen and still see on a fairly regular basis. Just ask any of them if they know Les

Don't think I can pm you

[FactualFrank]

Didn't Taskers finish up on Plumbe Street, end on to The Miners, with access either down the side of The Miners or the back street off Yorkshire Street down the side of UDA ? (Remember them ?)

Taskers is one of my earliest memories but only as far as back as the mid 80s. I remember the ramp from the large carpark at the back up to the market. And Kwiksave opposite the bus station.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Can't remember Nelson having a supermarket! Was there perhaps one at the bottom end of the Arndale, close to that nightclub?

[Wik]

An interesting question.

I seem to remember, way back when both the world and I was a little younger, 'bout 1951 or '52 that a son of the Altham family returned from a visit to the 'States sure that he'd seen the future of grocery shops - the supermarket.

The family opened a self-service grocery shop next to the family run travel agency on Standish St. It was not successful and closed after several months.

But it can claim to be Burnley's first supermarket, where people can browse among the shelves, choose their groceries, and pay for them at the checkout.

The primary reason I believe it failed was that it was under-capitalized. It was a small shop with an insufficient variety and quantity of groceries. It did not have enough capital to carry it over the initial loss period until it had gained acceptance.

Another factor was the entire approach was a new. People were used to going into a shop and having the shopkeeper bring the items to them - it was a much more personal experience.

I did not shop there as Mam was the person to do the shopping - but I was aware of it.

Was it mentioned in the 'Express at the time?

[GordonvaleClaret]

Wasn't there are Carlines down the side of the bus station

i'll second Carlines. Was by the bus stops on St James St near Palace and Wimpy Bar.

[bfcjg]

OOBEDOO'S Not a supermarket but what a place.

[BFCmaj]

Can't remember Nelson having a supermarket! Was there perhaps one at the bottom end of the Arndale, close to that nightclub?

Nearest one may have been Asda in Colne. I remember being in the back seat with my dad driving back from there in our old vauxhall viva, must have been late 70s and he had to do an emergency stop. This was before rear seatbelts in cars and I made a real mess of my mouth on the back of the driver's seat.

[joey13]

Anybody remember Susan George opening a store in Burnley 76/77 I remember me and a mate skipping work to see her

[ontario claret]

Not the same Safeway that we had in Canada, I assume. It was mostly on the Prairies.

[Volvoclaret]

First proper Supermarket in Burnley was Carlines, which was across from bus station in 1960. I know this because my parents bought a grocers shop in Stoneyholme a month before Carlines opened. The novelty of it caused a great loss in revenue for my parents but that's business. Anyway when Safeways opened it killed off Carlines, Karma or capitalism?

[mikeS]

Eddie Skinner opened Burnleys first supermarket in 1961 when Taskers first opened its doors in Water St behind the Palace. (Roughly about 100 yards in front of the Bridge pub front door). When the town centre redevelopment took place it moved to Turf Street off Oxford Road. Eddie died in 2013 aged 87. Brought up around the Oxford Road area he went to Tod Road School. Returning for the war, Eddie started off with a market stall in Halifax before opening Taskers in 1961.

[tim_noone]

Eddie Skinner opened Burnleys first supermarket in 1961 when Taskers first opened its doors in Water St behind the Palace. (Roughly about 100 yards in front of the Bridge pub front door). When the town centre redevelopment took place it moved to Turf Street off Oxford Road. Eddie died in 2013 aged 87. Brought up around the Oxford Road area he went to Tod Road School. Returning for the war, Eddie started off with a market stall in Halifax before opening Taskers in 1961.

Did he make a few bob in the process and have a good life? An original Burnley entrepreneur.

[mikeS]

I came across him in a cutting from the Burnley Express Tim. He also had a Taskers in Blackpool. His obituary says, “a born entrepreneur.” Died in Lytham Feb 2013

[tim_noone]

I came across him in a cutting from the Burnley Express Tim. He also had a Taskers in Blackpool. His obituary says, “a born entrepreneur.” Died in Lytham Feb 2013

Aah good on him he obviously earned his retirement in Lytham and served Burnley well.

[Garrett]

There was Supermarket at the corner of Bull Street and St James Row called Always and as a promotion to all streets beginning with a half-crown.
Mum went but said they should have sent tokens as the money could have been spent elsewhere.

[ollieclarets8]

That is one hell of a bump.

[bobinho]

Oobidoo?

Discount store on hammerton st?

[sjb]

The manager of Taskers on Plumbe Street in the 60s/70s was a guy called Paul Christian.

[ollieclarets8]

The manager of Taskers on Plumbe Street in the 60s/70s was a guy called Paul Christian.

Was Taskers like what we see now as Poundland?

[ClaretPete001]

The first one that you recognisably call a Supermarket that went to was Asda in Colne.

For some reason Obidoo and Hitchens were favourite shops in town.

[Lubanski]

I worked at Safeway from opening as a Saturday lad, it had automatic opening doors and families on opening day often went back out to see the doors open again. I would pack groceries into a stiff paper bag at the tills, we were told to offer to carry out groceries or offer to, The manager was Canadian and full of American type hype,he hired a monkey that sat in his shoulder on opening week. We were asked to approach customers in the isles and offer assistance, my shift was 11 am til 8 pm, I cleaned the floor at the end of the day, wage £1 I had a sarnie at Atlantis and then went up to the bowling alley for a game and milk shake, stil had a couple of Bob left.

[Lubanski]

Would have been 1964,

[gawthorpe_view]

(At least) 3 Co-ops in Padiham when I was a kid. Peel St, Shakespeare St and Burnley Road across from the Padiham Building Society.

Another was on the corner of Whalley Road and Holland Street, I think it was a co-op.
Also one on Grove Lane top of Lawrence Street but I don't remember that one open for business.

[bfcmik]

I don't know when they 1st opened but when I used to cross town to get to Teds from Rosegrove in the late 1960s there was a Tesco where McDonalds now stands, Moneysave across from the newly built bus station, Safeway on the Kierby roundabout, Taskers I don't remember at all. Woolworths and M&S were on opposite corners on St James St.

[gawthorpe_view]

Tesco on St James' Street had huge signs in the window offering treble Green Shield stamps on Thursdays, that's when payday was Friday for most folks.

[GordonvaleClaret]

Taskers behind \ underneath the Palace\ Grand on St James St (and opposite Websters) would have been an early one- though not sure that continental cheese would have figured there!!

Coopers? was buit in the mid 60s on St James St after the demolition of the Grand block - later became Tesco - is now Mc Donalds

Dont think we ever had a Maypole .... they were a Yorkshire outfit if I recall.

Moneysave was previosly Collinges ironmongers? not sure that it would have been a supermarket as easly as the 1960's?

Carlines not Coopers, just up from the Wimpy.

[GordonvaleClaret]

Just noticed I posted similar September 2018!

[ollieclarets8]

Just noticed I posted similar September 2018!

That's not such a bad thing. Just shows you're thinking the same kind of thing.

[longhair]

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/heritage ... ey-2926107


Hope it works

[MalaysiaMo]

I remember the interview for a student job at Safeways (evenings work, after schookl):

"What school do you go to?"

"Burnley Grammar School"

"You're hired."

Those were the days ...

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Was going to say I thought Taskers was down the side of the Prinny Royal in what became a Lada dealership????

But then realized I already posted on this thread in 2018

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Was going to say I thought Taskers was down the side of the Prinny Royal in what became a Lada dealership????

But then realized I already posted on this thread in 2018

[Vintage Claret]

I remember the interview for a student job at Safeways (evenings work, after schookl):

"What school do you go to?"

"Burnley Grammar School"

"You're hired."

Those were the days ...

That worked for me in the mid 70's when I was after an evening/Saturday job

Started off as a shelf stacker at Moneysave on Croft St. ( now a BHF shop) on the princely sum of 40p an hour but eventually transferred to the much coveted glamour position of 'Saturday lad' on the tills at Safeway's almost doubling my wages to 75p an hour in the process

[Bullabill]

See post 39. ......

Posts are numbered? I've never seen that! How do I display the numbers?

[pureclaret]

Hendrickxz - Elsie Tanner (Pat Pheonix) opened the show house on Wilkie Ave/Fairways Drive estate. Was either Barrett's or Leech's site - can't remember which.

Yes she did I got a photo of her on my camera and had to wait 2 weeks to get the picture back from sending away film.
I livid on Glen view backing on to fields that became the executive housing with Mick Doc , Mike Sumerbee living in houses next to each other. At the top of the estate they had put in drainage and this created an area of about 50m long 20 m wide with a 1m high boarder of soil (it was were they were ment to then dump and other earth from further housing but did not do for some 7 or 8 yrs) for us it was a purpose built football pitch. On odd occasions one or both of Mick and or Mike would come and kick about with us and there young children. Odd times as well Tommy Doc came to play and he did not pull back from a challenge against us kids , he once took my legs out and I ended head first in one of the mounds , he pulled me up and said get on with it (we were on the same side)

The estate as it was being built was a huge play ground for us who livid on Glen View and Herkomer ave going through the drainage tunnels running through half built houses. (no security on site and just jumped over our back garden fence.
At one stage the manager of Marks and Spencer livid in the house behind us and used to bring home lots of food that was to go out of date at a reduced cost. I think his last name was Cope and he had 3 children Andrew same age as me and very keen footballer daughter Lyndsey and youngest David there were several families on Glen View and Wilkie ave who became good friends and there were partys and holidays with them.

I remember Taskers Woolworths Marks , What was the store on Hall street that had children's toys , they had a deal where they would rent out garden toys for partys and then you could buy what you wanted, I had a birthday party with swings , slides rocking horse and a climbing frame, oh and a american Indian WigWam tent (thats what I kept).
Oh and it was my 66th birthday last week

[Zero]

Yes she did I got a photo of her on my camera and had to wait 2 weeks to get the picture back from sending away film.
I livid on Glen view backing on to fields that became the executive housing with Mick Doc , Mike Sumerbee living in houses next to each other. At the top of the estate they had put in drainage and this created an area of about 50m long 20 m wide with a 1m high boarder of soil (it was were they were ment to then dump and other earth from further housing but did not do for some 7 or 8 yrs) for us it was a purpose built football pitch. On odd occasions one or both of Mick and or Mike would come and kick about with us and there young children. Odd times as well Tommy Doc came to play and he did not pull back from a challenge against us kids , he once took my legs out and I ended head first in one of the mounds , he pulled me up and said get on with it (we were on the same side)

The estate as it was being built was a huge play ground for us who livid on Glen View and Herkomer ave going through the drainage tunnels running through half built houses. (no security on site and just jumped over our back garden fence.
At one stage the manager of Marks and Spencer livid in the house behind us and used to bring home lots of food that was to go out of date at a reduced cost. I think his last name was Cope and he had 3 children Andrew same age as me and very keen footballer daughter Lyndsey and youngest David there were several families on Glen View and Wilkie ave who became good friends and there were partys and holidays with them.

I remember Taskers Woolworths Marks , What was the store on Hall street that had children's toys , they had a deal where they would rent out garden toys for partys and then you could buy what you wanted, I had a birthday party with swings , slides rocking horse and a climbing frame, oh and a american Indian WigWam tent (thats what I kept).
Oh and it was my 66th birthday last week

Happy Birthday y'old gimmer. Time flies.

[ClaretPete001]

Yes she did I got a photo of her on my camera and had to wait 2 weeks to get the picture back from sending away film.
I livid on Glen view backing on to fields that became the executive housing with Mick Doc , Mike Sumerbee living in houses next to each other. At the top of the estate they had put in drainage and this created an area of about 50m long 20 m wide with a 1m high boarder of soil (it was were they were ment to then dump and other earth from further housing but did not do for some 7 or 8 yrs) for us it was a purpose built football pitch. On odd occasions one or both of Mick and or Mike would come and kick about with us and there young children. Odd times as well Tommy Doc came to play and he did not pull back from a challenge against us kids , he once took my legs out and I ended head first in one of the mounds , he pulled me up and said get on with it (we were on the same side)

The estate as it was being built was a huge play ground for us who livid on Glen View and Herkomer ave going through the drainage tunnels running through half built houses. (no security on site and just jumped over our back garden fence.
At one stage the manager of Marks and Spencer livid in the house behind us and used to bring home lots of food that was to go out of date at a reduced cost. I think his last name was Cope and he had 3 children Andrew same age as me and very keen footballer daughter Lyndsey and youngest David there were several families on Glen View and Wilkie ave who became good friends and there were partys and holidays with them.

I remember Taskers Woolworths Marks , What was the store on Hall street that had children's toys , they had a deal where they would rent out garden toys for partys and then you could buy what you wanted, I had a birthday party with swings , slides rocking horse and a climbing frame, oh and a american Indian WigWam tent (thats what I kept).
Oh and it was my 66th birthday last week

I don’t remember Mike Summerbee living there but Mick Docherty did and I think Eric Probert. Jimmy Robson lived up there before moving to the Ormerod Road area of the town.

Mick Docherty did play with the kids on Tillies field and I think he had a brother called Peter who used to play as well.

Happy birthday btw great memories

[pureclaret]

I don’t remember Mike Summerbee living there but Mick Docherty did and I think Eric Probert. Jimmy Robson lived up there before moving to the Ormerod Road area of the town.

Mick Docherty did play with the kids on Tillies field and I think he had a brother called Peter who used to play as well.

Happy birthday btw great memories

There was tillies field and for a while one just between the golf club and the houses. A school friend of mine's Mum and Dad use to run the Bull and Butcher ( he was Ian Chadwick )
Thanks for the Birthday wishes, did you live round there and play on the Tillies stadium pitch ? (my Memories are great,but I guess as I get older they may improve or get worse lol)

[pureclaret]

Happy Birthday y'old gimmer. Time flies.

Thank you for the birhday wishes, Ive ordered my bus pass so I can go on journeys for free , a friend of ours goes from Blackburn to Blackpool leaves at 9:30 am gets into Blackpool for a walk on the prom fish and chips and comes back in time for tea Takes a book to read on the journeys says its better than sat at home reading and gets a different view every time he turns a page lol

[longsidetrumpet]

My first recollection was a Taskers selves service store on Westgate, in the fifties. I vividly remember it being between Ashfield Rd and Clifton St

That’s the one I remember, definitely self service and probably late 50s/early 60s. Almost certainly the first, although Taskers was around the same time

[kentonclaret]

When did supermarkets first appear in Burnley.
Maypoles, was this a chain of large shops resembling a supermarket.

Maypole was owned by a group called Allied Suppliers which was also responsible for a chain of self service/supermarket stores trading as Home and Colonial and Lipton (Sir Thomas Lipton was a famous name in the world of tea and Yachting having competed in the America’s Cup). All have long since disappeared from our High Street.