Joplings
Encyclopedia
Joplings was a department store, located in Sunderland, England, which was part of the former Vergo Retail Ltd. group of department stores.
It was the night the skies over Sunderland turned a fiery red – it was also a night no-one would ever forget.
As flames ripped through Joplings on December 13, 1954, 100 firefighters battled to save the 150-year-old store.
By morning, however, just rubble remained – along with a cheery sign proclaiming 'Santa Claus is here today.'
Joplings, a shopping institution since 1804, was at the height of its busy Christmas season when disaster struck.
Such was the scale of the inferno that the fiery glow from the High Street building could be seen for 20 miles around.
"Narrow streets became valleys of heat, driving back the firefighters, with masonry collapsing on hose pipes," a reporter at the scene later recalled.
"The worst moment came when firemen playing their hoses on the front of the store suddenly realised the building on the opposite side of the road had also taken fire.
"Within seconds, they were at the centre of a ring of fire."
But as masonry crashed into the street, and girders twisted in the heat, the brave firemen battled on – sadly in vain.
"The intense heat could be felt by onlookers 80 yards away," the reporter revealed. "By 2am flames were tearing through the roof and the interior glowed like a furnace.
"The next day, all that remained was the shell if the building. It was Sunderland's biggest fire of the century."
Within a week, however, local storekeepers helped to put Joplings back in business, by offering accommodation for the different departments at premises throughout the town.
Just six weeks later a temporary store was opened at the old High Street site and, within 18 months, a new Joplings was built in John Street. It was business as usual.
In early 2005 the store was purchased from its previous owners, Merchant Retail Group plc, together with Robbs
of Hexham, by Liverpool based Owen Owen Ltd.
, for £5 million and another £3 million for stock.
On 18 May 2007, it was announced that a newly formed company, Vergo Retail, had taken over the three remaining Owen Owen stores. Vergo Retail was spearheaded by David Thompson, a former director of Mothercare
, Habitat
and more recently director and shareholder of Mark One
which was sold in 2004 for £55m.
Other departments include Sound & Vision, Wines & Spirits and The Christmas Department.
On 7 May 2010, Vergo was placed into administration, with MCR appointed as the administrators. On 11 May 2010, it was announced that there would be ten store closures, including Joplings, within the next four weeks unless a buyer was found. A final closure date of Saturday 19 June 2010 has now been set.
History
The store was established in 1804. In December 1954 the store burnt down and operated from temporary space until its present purpose-built building opened in 1956.It was the night the skies over Sunderland turned a fiery red – it was also a night no-one would ever forget.
As flames ripped through Joplings on December 13, 1954, 100 firefighters battled to save the 150-year-old store.
By morning, however, just rubble remained – along with a cheery sign proclaiming 'Santa Claus is here today.'
Joplings, a shopping institution since 1804, was at the height of its busy Christmas season when disaster struck.
Such was the scale of the inferno that the fiery glow from the High Street building could be seen for 20 miles around.
"Narrow streets became valleys of heat, driving back the firefighters, with masonry collapsing on hose pipes," a reporter at the scene later recalled.
"The worst moment came when firemen playing their hoses on the front of the store suddenly realised the building on the opposite side of the road had also taken fire.
"Within seconds, they were at the centre of a ring of fire."
But as masonry crashed into the street, and girders twisted in the heat, the brave firemen battled on – sadly in vain.
"The intense heat could be felt by onlookers 80 yards away," the reporter revealed. "By 2am flames were tearing through the roof and the interior glowed like a furnace.
"The next day, all that remained was the shell if the building. It was Sunderland's biggest fire of the century."
Within a week, however, local storekeepers helped to put Joplings back in business, by offering accommodation for the different departments at premises throughout the town.
Just six weeks later a temporary store was opened at the old High Street site and, within 18 months, a new Joplings was built in John Street. It was business as usual.
In early 2005 the store was purchased from its previous owners, Merchant Retail Group plc, together with Robbs
Robbs
Robbs is a mid-size department store in Hexham, owned by Beales. It was set up and created in 1819 by William Robb and expanded in the 1920s and 1980s respectively. It has had a long and extravagant history...
of Hexham, by Liverpool based Owen Owen Ltd.
Owen Owen
Owen Owen was a Liverpool-based operator of department stores in the United Kingdom.- The man :Owen Owen was born in October 1847 and died on Easter Sunday in 1910 at the age of 62....
, for £5 million and another £3 million for stock.
On 18 May 2007, it was announced that a newly formed company, Vergo Retail, had taken over the three remaining Owen Owen stores. Vergo Retail was spearheaded by David Thompson, a former director of Mothercare
Mothercare
Mothercare plc is a British retailer which specialises in products for expectant mothers and in general merchandise for children up to 8 years old. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
, Habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
and more recently director and shareholder of Mark One
MK One
- Beginnings as Mark One :The company was founded by in the 1980s by Mark Brafman, Les Lucy and Alan Simons as Mark One, and became a discount womenswear retailer. In February 1996 Mark One was bought from administration by billionaire Philip Green, owner of BHS. Shami Ahmed had also made a failed...
which was sold in 2004 for £55m.
Other departments include Sound & Vision, Wines & Spirits and The Christmas Department.
On 7 May 2010, Vergo was placed into administration, with MCR appointed as the administrators. On 11 May 2010, it was announced that there would be ten store closures, including Joplings, within the next four weeks unless a buyer was found. A final closure date of Saturday 19 June 2010 has now been set.