DAVIDW 1,489 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Benjamin , the name Carty rings some vague bells . To be honest food and non-food staff didn't mix that much ....We were just too busy ! Could be him in the middle of the management photo with the long hair . The guy in the jumper next to him was the food warehouse manager as far as I remember . ( I'm the one with the tash (and hair!) next to Mr Fanaken , the store manager). In the other photo it's a different guy . If I have got it right , the guy standing next to the trellis was the manager on the electrical section (forgotten his name ). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 4,213 Posted February 28, 2017 Report Share Posted February 28, 2017 Just found this forum about GEM. As a callow youth in addition to my day job I worked part time for a firm on Cliff Rd who supplied cleaning staff to the store. It was my job to drive the Commer mini-bus, collect and deliver the ladies to the store then take them back to Clifton. I drove the floor polishing machine. 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. If we were a team member short one of the cleaners would bring her daughter as a replacement. She always turned up with an empty shopping bag and always left with it full. Don't know, didn't ask, scared me to death. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 13,923 Posted February 28, 2017 Report Share Posted February 28, 2017 Sorry to say Brew........we caught lots of contract cleaners 'Well at it''..........you wouldn't believe how much they could cram into their 'Mop buckets'' 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 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 17 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 1,477 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 114 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. 9,304 Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 Gem gems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IAN123. 9,304 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 1,489 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 4,213 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 2,303 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 13,923 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 8,544 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 1,288 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 5,454 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 8,985 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 4,348 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 8,985 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
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