Shopping, they call it Progress..The death of the British High street

[hollydolly]

Found this posted elsewhere... for those who don't know... ''The high street '' in the UK is the generic name for any town centre streets where we once had all our independent shops, and stores... now with Malls and Huge out of town retail parks, and online shopping.. they are becoming just streets for cafes, nail salons and charity shops...


I don’t go down the High Street now there’s nothing for me there.

It’s full of shops that do your nails or cut and colour hair.
I don’t go down the High Street now and neither does my wife.
What used to be a thriving hub is now devoid of life.
They’re building shops way out of town there’s nowhere else to go.
The High Street I’m afraid to say has hit an all-time low.

The High Street used to sing and dance, at least it did to me.
But now it’s sadly out of step and painfully off-key.
But way back in the heyday when the High Street was the king, oh you could spend all day down there and buy just anything!
But now the king has lost his crown, no longer does he reign.
He’s been dethroned by hyper stores and supermarket chains.

Just like a vampire in the night, they swooped down from the sky.
They forced the people out of town and sucked the High Streets dry.
We used to have so many shops for all that we might need.
For furniture for shoes and clothes and cakes or books to read.

Butchers bakers fishmongers sold fresh and wholesome stuff.
And though our families were not rich we all ate well enough.
But now they’ve gone, it’s progress see..
yes all have been replaced by takeaways and coffee shops with all their plastic waste!

With automatic checkout tills appearing everywhere.
No conversation, pleasantries or anecdotes to share.
I heard it said that money talks, at first I had my doubts.
And I was right it does not talk, that money bloody shouts!

It’s always been the same of course it’s human nature see.
We have to travel with the times that’s how it has to be.
And kids today they say I’m old and I of course agree.
They say the future is for them and not the likes of me.

My answer flutters on the breeze, a flag that’s flown half-mast. “I wouldn’t want your future, kids... I much prefer my past.”

 

[Remy]

I didn't know that was what High Street meant. Very sad. I guess we call them Downtown in the states.

But yes, stores are not what they were. Even a Hallmark shop (cards and gifts) don't exist. At least ours shut down and I don't know if they are anyplace else.

Most of our department stores are gone also in my town.

 

[Chet]

Our high street was Main Street where I grew up and had a butcher, baker, grocery, pharmacy, haberdashery and of course taverns all within walking distance of one another. Back in the day, not everyone had cars and were less mobile.

 

[Blessed]

I would love to live in a sweet little town like that, everything in walking distance and have those family run specialty shops. I am surrounded by areas to shop but they are corporate stores. I am glad I have those options but would prefer that small town feel.

 

[hollydolly]

I would love to live in a sweet little town like that, everything in walking distance and have those family run speciality shops. I am surrounded by areas to shop but they are corporate stores. I am glad I have those options but would prefer that small town feel.

We still have some small towns like that... my little market town still has lots of independent shops.. but all the shops like the Butchers, and bakers, and fishmongers are all gone... now we have so many hair and beauty salons.. and coffee shops and restaurants, and Estate agents..

Once upon a time you could buy everything you needed in town, but now you can't buy clothes or shoes or any fresh groceries.. or toys.. or furniture , we have to travel a long way for those to the huge Box stores on retail parks ..it still looks pretty tho'..

 

[Georgiagranny]

My little hometown used to be like that, too. You could buy everything you needed or wanted and then walk back home. Most everything has moved to the edge of town where there's what passes for a mall. A couple of miles away, midway between my hometown and another small town is a Walmart.

The little mom and pop stores in our "downtown" that featured shoes, clothes, bakeries, coffee shops, jewelers, furniture, variety stores, florists, boutiques, are all gone, and if someone tries to open a small business there, it might last a year or so, then fail.

In those days, we were glad to see shopkeepers we'd known forever and visit with friends when we went downtown. Now? It's all so impersonal that we don't know any shopkeepers, and since Covid have become distant from friends.

Progress isn't always all it's cracked up to be.