How Sunderland reacted to Binns closure news

Word had spread that the last trading part of the Fawcett Street landmark was to close for good. No-one was surprised but Wearsiders still vented their emotions at the start of November in 1992.

Once a bustling street

Binns was the centrepiece of the once busy street which had become a fading attraction.

This is what people had to say;

Winnie Thompson of Gilley Law, said: “The place will just turn into a ghost town.

Shoppers who prefer the old-style personal touch of a trusted department store may have to look elsewhere, said the Echo at the time.

‘You can see less and less people in the cafeteria’

Joyce Tyson, of Castletown, said: “I thought it would happen - I’ve been coming here for years and you can see less and less people in the cafeteria.

“I will miss it as I’ll probably go out of town now.”

To others, Binns offered a benchmark of high quality good and service.

One of the best shops in the city

Husband and wife Jo and John Donkin of Hylton Castle, mourned the loss of the department store and said that they were losing one of the best shops in the city.

John said: “To think we had the old town hall and the Binns store next to each other, now both are finished.”

Binns shut for good in Sunderland in January 1993 and we want to know what you remember most about it.

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