DAVIDW 1,702 Posted February 28, 2017 Report Share Posted February 28, 2017 5 hours ago, Brew said: Just found this forum about GEM. ........... The store manager was an American, not very tall and a little portly. He also had very sticky out ears. I can't remember his name but the ladies all called him Mickey Mouse. The store manager from the opening was Alan Bradford . I will stand corrected but though he had an American accent , I believe he was English born . He certainly spent a period of time in America . He got me my job there as a Saturday lad . Alan Bradford is standing on the right of this trio. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Mills 18 Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 The original GEM was a market, separate businesses rented a piece of floorspace. It wasn't about cutting prices (remember retail price maintenance?), it was about everything under one roof. The grocery department was the lynch-pin of the whole operation, and was operated by Associated Dairies (of Leeds). However, this operational model became unsustainable and in a bold move, Associated Dairies took over the whole shebang, renamed as Asda, and the Superstore was born. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mary1947 2,099 Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 "GEM" it was the only place I knew at the time who sold Heinz baby tins for 6d. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paradiddle 146 Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 David, don't know if you have seen it but there was an article in the Nottingham Post, July 10th, 2017 which featured your old workplace. I saved it with you in mind and it has been gathering dust in my garage since it was published. If you would like it please PM me. Good luck with the One Show! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IAN123. 9,325 Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 Gem gems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IAN123. 9,325 Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 Landers baked a cake for the grand opening!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,702 Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 I would have been working there when those photos were taken , the older photos from near opening day have the GEM sign on the left hand front facia of the building . For some reason (planning?) the size of the sign was reduced and later plonked on top of the front entrance canopy . That front entrance was later closed and sole entry to the store was at the side facing the larger car park . Think that happened when ASDA took over most of the concessions and swung the checkouts round to that side of the store . I remember there being 40 checkouts in all . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,462 Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 I was there pre ASDA days and each dept; had their own tills. As D Mills said originally it was just one massive market, a bit like Debenhams department store in principle but all on one floor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,371 Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Here's one for Ben. A Landers price list from 1963 The smell from the bakery on Woodh'us Rd near the Black Bull made your stomach rumble Image from ourmansfieldandarea.org.uk You can see the full listing of all their products there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,279 Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Blimey thanks OZ,, I'd forgot about Milk bread,,in fact even forgot about Landers,,didn't deal with em at Marsdens,,but they were very popular back then,, Vans were red and cream i think? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,386 Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Didn't they have shops dotted around Nottingham? I think there was one on the first floor of the Victoria Centre. Cakes, filled rolls for lunchtime, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Commo 1,292 Posted May 15, 2019 Report Share Posted May 15, 2019 Mother in Law used to pay into a Christmas Club at Landers in Sutton in Ashfield to buy a Christmas hamper of Chrissy Cake, mince pies, bread, mincemeat, all presented in a festive box, usually used after for storing odds and ends. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John kidd 0 Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 Used to go to Gem in the sixties with our parents and on our own Their was a free bus from Clifton The west bridgford brown buses Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 On 2/22/2012 at 11:21 PM, Gibbo 04 said: Anyone remember the old Gem Anyone know when it was built? Or indeed went when it opened Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,529 Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 And another...which even I don't remember. https://nottstalgia.com/forums/topic/10485-gem-and-asda/? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,240 Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 I think Padley’s Motor Auctions occupied part of that site prior to GEM. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,529 Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 More stuff I hadn't remembered. I've found this old thread about Padleys, and I even posted in it. https://nottstalgia.com/forums/topic/8942-padleys-motor-auctions/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,091 Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 On This Day in 1964… https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/87005/ 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,529 Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 I've been in that ASDA quite recently. It's very much like shopping in an aircraft hangar; and bloody cold on anything but a warm summer day. The staff must wear thermals for most of the year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,702 Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 2 hours ago, Cliff Ton said: I've been in that ASDA quite recently. It's very much like shopping in an aircraft hangar I have to comment on anything GEM related as I worked there from its opening as a Saturday lad whilst at college and ended up staying on full time before leaving in 1977. Also of course , my late dad was in charge of the building of the original store and that was how I got my job after he had a word with the store manager. The store was rebuilt in 1993 and not sure if any of the original building was retained. Previous thread here https://nottstalgia.com/forums/topic/9182-gem-at-west-bridgford/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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