BUSINESSES have come and gone in the city centre and some have left a considerable gap for many residents.
There are currently more than 400 businesses in Colchester, with many being independent businesses.
The Covid pandemic saw many businesses take a hit.
The following list looks back at some of the loved and lost businesses in Colchester.
Jacks
Where: St Nicholas Street
Jacks was a popular equipment retailer formed in 1946.
The business went into administration in January 2012 after it began trading at a loss due to increased competition and the costs of operating in the High Street.
It specialised in camping equipment and work clothing.
After it closed a Roman bath was discovered hidden underground.
Past Times
Where: Trinity Square
Past Times cards and gift shop in Trinity Square was a popular shop for many.
Residents have expressed how much they miss the shop for buying small gifts.
Luckin-Smith
Where: High Street
Family run Luckin-Smith had enjoyed a long life having previously had a grocers aspect which was sold off before the shop itself closed for good in 1981 having traded for 50 years.
Jacklins Restaurant
Where: High Street
Jacklins Restaurant, tobacconist and sweet shop, which stood on part of the High Street site for nearly 80 years.
Willie Gees, which is now Fenwick, snapped up Jacklins as part of its expansion plans in the 1990s.
The restaurant closed its doors for the final time in January 1997.
Grain
Where: North Hill
Grain Restaurant was opened in 2016 by friends Paul Wendholt and Jordan Sidwell.
It was popular due to its unique menu of starter sizes, which allowed diners to create their own tasting menu.
It closed in October 2020 following the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Paul Wendholt went solo and opened the very successful Kintsu restaurant in 2021.
Eclettico
Where: Trinity Street
Eclettico gift shop sadly closed in January 2019 after decades in business.
The shop was run by husband and wife Judith and Gary Naylor for ten years and before that was run by the previous owner for 20 years.
Debenhams
Where: Culver Street West
Colchester's Debenham's store closed permanently during the pandemic in what has been described as a big blow for the town.
The store, in Culver Street West, is one of the largest in the town centre and the brand is one of the biggest on the high street.
Online fashion retailer Boohoo has bought the Debenhams brand for £55 million, however, it did not take on its stores or workforce.
A number of suggestions have been put forward for its future.
Woolworths
Where: Culver Square
Woolworths itself has, in one way or another, had a presence in Colchester since 1914.
Economic troubles succeeded where the fire in 1973 had failed and despite their best efforts to keep all their staff employed in the months while the new shop was built, it closed again a decade after re-launching in January 1985 with the loss of 70 jobs.
It was finally brought back to Colchester by popular demand in 1998, to Culver Square before the company withdrew from high street completely after going into administration in late 2008 with more than £300million of debt.
Topshop
Where: Lion Walk Shopping Centre
Another big name brand is set to disappear from Colchester town centre for good after being taken over by an online retailer.
Asos confirmed a £265 million takeover of four Arcadia brands - Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT.
But the online retailer will not be reopening stores, meaning Colchester's Topshop store, in Lion Walk Shopping Centre, will close for good.
Laura Ashley
Where: Trinity Square
Laura Ashley closed its Colchester store, in Trinity Square, in 2020.
The troubled retailer was founded in the 50s but entered administration in March this year, blaming coronavirus on its money woes.
It closed dozens of stores across the country, but will continue to operate online.
Colchester Business Improvement District has a five year plan to make Colchester “a better place to work, live and visit”.
It has plans to “add value through business support, making Colchester cleaner and greener, town centre marketing and events.”
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