I remember going to the West Bridgeford Asda on a Saturday with my parents in the early 1970s! My dad still called it Gem from time to time, always baffled me, and now I understand why... Another great video, thanks.
I grew up in cropwell bishop in the late 90’s and the weekly shop to ASDA with my mum after school was always the highlight of my week, especially if I returned the trolley, I could keep the pound :) I live in Australia now but I still feel very connected to Nottingham
I remember it being knocked out. We even went on a school trip from greythorn primary were the explained us the changes they were making. If I remember correctly the old building was closer to the main road than the current one.
Great Video, was very surprised to see it was only called Gem for 2 years, I can remember well my families first attempt to visit the place, we had moved into one of the villages a few miles away and our next door neighbour told us about this fabulous store called Gem, this was in 1974 so nearly a decade after it had changed to Asda, so when my parents could only find a store called Asda and Gem was nowhere to be seen, they gave up and went home. I still shop there every week, I didn't have a clue that it had any retail significance.
The original Gem/Asda store was to the right of the carpark as you look from Loughborough Road, it would have backed onto the VW dealer that is there now (It used to be John Fox in an older building if I remember correctly) the carpark went back to the rear boundary, I remember there was a mini-island at the far end that you would loop round to come back along the front of the store. The current building replaced it in 2000 when they spun the layout around. There was also a McDonalds at the front of the new store originally.
I remember GEM opening and used to go there to buy petrol for my first car, as it was six pence cheaper than the local Clifton filling stations. There was also a free bus for a short time from Clifton to GEM run by West Bridgford U.D.C. transport.
I remember GEM, then ASDA at Bridgford. I remember when it first opened its George section too. I also remember when the site on Radford Bvd belonged to Players, because I used to walk past it on the way to school every day.
Wow.. who knew! So interesting to find these facts out about Nottingham & the history behind the everyday places we use. Can't wait for the next one! 👏👏
We lived in Melton Mowbray, but I had an uncle who lived in Beechdale. I can remember going to visit him, I was only young about eight years old. He took me and my dad to see Asda in West Bridgeford. Even I was amazed by the size of the place and even more amazed by the huge selection of toys lol...🤣👍
These vids are amazing guy, thank you so much. I hope to see one about the crypts in notts or about clifton woods they have some brilliant history same as the windmill, let alone the tri county area. Please keep them coming can't wait to see what you've got next
I remember it well as Gem and then changing to ASDA. Walking home with bags full of shopping as a child before my parents owned a car. Behind Asda was waste land and a tip, my friends and I would ride around there on motorcycles at the weekend and in Asda car park on a Sunday as it was closed Sundays…who remembers the tyre shop attached to Asda
Although Asquith-Associated had taken over the former GEM store around 1965, the signage wasn't changed until the early 1970's. I was born in 1964 in West Bridgford and recall the big 'GEM" sign still on Loughborough Road on the few occasions mum didn't go shopping along Central Avenue in W. Bridgford proper. The old man could also be often found propping up the bar at the Wolds Hotel next door to GEM (when he wasn't propping up the bar at either The Test Match, on Gordon Road, or The Meadow Covert, on Alford Road).
Would be an interesting move to preserve our ASDA as a heritage site - the current building was only built about 20 years ago! I do love bringing its history up as our claim to fame
My mother took me to Gem in the 1960,s when it first opened. I remember she thought it was unsafe because it had no windows, she was scared there might be a fire and people would be trapped. Then one day there was an IRA bomb scare whilst we were in there, and everyone had to file out calmly. That was the last time we went, my mother went back to shopping on Melton Road, at the Corner Shop and Slades the greengrocer, after that.
No, I've never wondered if it was historically significant. However, after watching a video from 1993, just last night, which showed that the Aldi at Castle Retail Park on Radford Boulevard was there at the time, I DID wonder if that was historically significant. It must have been almost 10 years after that before I'd ever even heard of Aldi! Heck I didn't even realise Castle Retail Park was that old. When I saw it in the video, I expected all the stores to be different. Topps Tiles was actually there, which wasn't too surprising, but the rest were all different. Or so it seemed. And then all of a sudden, after I thought they'd shown all the shops, BOOM, Aldi. My mind was blown. It was like these guys from 1993 had somehow gotten a shot from the present day. And yeah maybe there wasn't anything significant about that Aldi at all. But I've never wondered if any supermarket was remotely historically signifant before. And then I did. And now I'm watching this video about how the ASDA I regularly shop at IS historically significant. That's just weird. My mind is blown again.
Oh and yeah the West Bridgford ASDA being the first of its kind... yep mind blown again. Although your mind can only be blown so many times on the subject of supermarkets before it stops losing all meaning.
As an ex colleague of this store, There’s a woman who currently works there and was originally part of the store when it was GEM 40 years ago. She’s amazing! Part of the history there too! ❤️ x
I remember going to the West Bridgeford Asda on a Saturday with my parents in the early 1970s! My dad still called it Gem from time to time, always baffled me, and now I understand why... Another great video, thanks.
When I was a kid in the '60s, it was called GEM and we loved it!
I grew up in cropwell bishop in the late 90’s and the weekly shop to ASDA with my mum after school was always the highlight of my week, especially if I returned the trolley, I could keep the pound :)
I live in Australia now but I still feel very connected to Nottingham
I remember it being knocked out. We even went on a school trip from greythorn primary were the explained us the changes they were making. If I remember correctly the old building was closer to the main road than the current one.
Brilliant local history! As a Notts local I was suprised to know there was any history at all with that ASDA, I shop there all the time. Subscribed 👍
Keep these videos coming my dude!
Will do!
Great Video, was very surprised to see it was only called Gem for 2 years, I can remember well my families first attempt to visit the place, we had moved into one of the villages a few miles away and our next door neighbour told us about this fabulous store called Gem, this was in 1974 so nearly a decade after it had changed to Asda, so when my parents could only find a store called Asda and Gem was nowhere to be seen, they gave up and went home. I still shop there every week, I didn't have a clue that it had any retail significance.
The original Gem/Asda store was to the right of the carpark as you look from Loughborough Road, it would have backed onto the VW dealer that is there now (It used to be John Fox in an older building if I remember correctly) the carpark went back to the rear boundary, I remember there was a mini-island at the far end that you would loop round to come back along the front of the store.
The current building replaced it in 2000 when they spun the layout around. There was also a McDonalds at the front of the new store originally.
I recall that island - there were tyre/service bays right by it.
Great video! very talented mate
Thankyou Jack!
I remember GEM opening and used to go there to buy petrol for my first car, as it was six pence cheaper than the local Clifton filling stations.
There was also a free bus for a short time from Clifton to GEM run by West Bridgford U.D.C. transport.
I remember GEM, then ASDA at Bridgford. I remember when it first opened its George section too. I also remember when the site on Radford Bvd belonged to Players, because I used to walk past it on the way to school every day.
The whole video kept me glued up. Keep up the good work.
Wow.. who knew! So interesting to find these facts out about Nottingham & the history behind the everyday places we use. Can't wait for the next one! 👏👏
Excellent.... I love these local videos... and that 1990's documentary was a gold mine. :)
In the mid 80's we were driving from Arnold to shop at West Bridgford ASDA. It was considered a treat.
Another great bit of local history. Really well put together. You even make economics interesting.
As always an enjoyable and informative video!
I had a Saturday job there in 1980. Great camaraderie!
We lived in Melton Mowbray, but I had an uncle who lived in Beechdale. I can remember going to visit him, I was only young about eight years old. He took me and my dad to see Asda in West Bridgeford. Even I was amazed by the size of the place and even more amazed by the huge selection of toys lol...🤣👍
I love nottingham
Another funny, engaging video Michael. Looking really comfortable on camera too.
And West Bridgeford Asda ay, who woulda thought?
These vids are amazing guy, thank you so much. I hope to see one about the crypts in notts or about clifton woods they have some brilliant history same as the windmill, let alone the tri county area. Please keep them coming can't wait to see what you've got next
I didn't know Gem was the first such superstore. Interesting. I do remember Shirley Eaton ("Goldfinger") was there for the grand opening.
Very interesting video and the topic. Your presentation is amazing too, Michael...👌🏻
Thankyou Litty!
Thank you for this. It’s really interesting! I was at Victoria Retail Park earlier this week. It’s almost unrecognisable now
I remember going there when it was Gem and again when first rebranded as ASDA. It was amazing. Luckily we only lived in Keyworth
I'd be interested to learn when the store changed it's name as I know it was still called Gem in the early 70's.
Just did shopping there yesterday. I like that shop and the cafe
I remember it well as Gem and then changing to ASDA. Walking home with bags full of shopping as a child before my parents owned a car. Behind Asda was waste land and a tip, my friends and I would ride around there on motorcycles at the weekend and in Asda car park on a Sunday as it was closed Sundays…who remembers the tyre shop attached to Asda
Yup, that tip was my playground too. Also remember the tyre bay. Had one of it's Dunlop banners on my bedroom wall for a couple of years.
In 1964 I would have been 10 or 11. The new Gem store was free entertainment in the evenings for a pre-teen lad like me, and in my home town too.
Although Asquith-Associated had taken over the former GEM store around 1965, the signage wasn't changed until the early 1970's. I was born in 1964 in West Bridgford and recall the big 'GEM" sign still on Loughborough Road on the few occasions mum didn't go shopping along Central Avenue in W. Bridgford proper. The old man could also be often found propping up the bar at the Wolds Hotel next door to GEM (when he wasn't propping up the bar at either The Test Match, on Gordon Road, or The Meadow Covert, on Alford Road).
Really enjoy your vids👍my sister got her first job at gem👍
Beautiful video I gave it a thumbs up
Thankyou!
Would be an interesting move to preserve our ASDA as a heritage site - the current building was only built about 20 years ago! I do love bringing its history up as our claim to fame
I live really close and went there almost once a week
My mother took me to Gem in the 1960,s when it first opened. I remember she thought it was unsafe because it had no windows, she was scared there might be a fire and people would be trapped. Then one day there was an IRA bomb scare whilst we were in there, and everyone had to file out calmly. That was the last time we went, my mother went back to shopping on Melton Road, at the Corner Shop and Slades the greengrocer, after that.
Okay... didn't expect to see a video all about my local Asda... let's see where this goes
No, I've never wondered if it was historically significant.
However, after watching a video from 1993, just last night, which showed that the Aldi at Castle Retail Park on Radford Boulevard was there at the time, I DID wonder if that was historically significant. It must have been almost 10 years after that before I'd ever even heard of Aldi! Heck I didn't even realise Castle Retail Park was that old. When I saw it in the video, I expected all the stores to be different. Topps Tiles was actually there, which wasn't too surprising, but the rest were all different. Or so it seemed. And then all of a sudden, after I thought they'd shown all the shops, BOOM, Aldi. My mind was blown. It was like these guys from 1993 had somehow gotten a shot from the present day.
And yeah maybe there wasn't anything significant about that Aldi at all. But I've never wondered if any supermarket was remotely historically signifant before. And then I did. And now I'm watching this video about how the ASDA I regularly shop at IS historically significant. That's just weird. My mind is blown again.
Ok wait a minute you are now showing that exact section of that 1993 video...
But you cut it before they showed Aldi! Unsurprising, since as I said, they showed that separately a tad later
Oh and yeah the West Bridgford ASDA being the first of its kind... yep mind blown again.
Although your mind can only be blown so many times on the subject of supermarkets before it stops losing all meaning.
Good vid
The original gem was demolished in the early 2000s after the Asda superstore was built, I remember it happening, I was 5 at the time
Ah, damn, I didn't know that!
That was great - I didn't know any of that! :)
Marvellous!
ASDA way to do it!
As an ex colleague of this store, There’s a woman who currently works there and was originally part of the store when it was GEM 40 years ago. She’s amazing! Part of the history there too! ❤️ x
@David Hill someone else, her names Karen, x
remember the macdonalds there just after the turn of the century
went there 1 xmas never again 2 hours to get out of the carpark bedlam,
i BET THAT GUYS FUN AT PARTYS.