From Billy Hughes to Len Shackleton and Charlie Buchan to Willie Watson, some of Sunderland’s heroes of their era sold everything from shoes to sweets.
We have historians and authors Alan Brett and Philip Curtis to thank for this insight.
If you want to find out more about Wearside’s past, their book Going Shopping in Sunderland is available from Sunderland Museum, Sunderland Antiquarian Society, Fulwell Post Office, Clay’s Garden Centre and www.summerhillbooks.co.uk. It costs £4.99.
In the meantime, join us on a journey back to the shops of the stars.
2. Len Shackleton
Sunderland legend Len Shackleton. Shack had shops in Bridge Street and New Durham Road and specialised in hairdressing as well as wines and spirits. Photo: ugc
3. Solving those present buying problems
You could get everything from comic postcards to toys at Alex Hastings Seaburn post office. Hastings was Sunderland's captain throughout much of the 1930s and was a Scottish international left half. Photo: ugc
