Owen Owen

When I worked for part of the Owen Owen group in Liverpool, there were two employees named Eric Rees - the second one was known as Eric Renton at work!

Also had that system in Hogarths in Corporation St.

Owen Owen restaurant 1955

Owen Owen basement 1946

Why didn't they just rebuild it on the same site? The position of the new Owen Owen (Primark) is very odd and no one seems to be able to do anything with the awkward space behind it. It always feels to me as if they did Broadgate, and never really planned anything else. Nice position for a landmark building as well.

My first visit to Coventry was on the way back from a school trip after a week in the Cotswolds in about 1963. We had a guide to show us round and he gave us a tour of what was supposed to be Coventry city centre. We were quite impressed because everything was under cover and connected by escalators although there only seemed to be a very limited amount of shops available but it was better than anything we had at home. It wasn't until I came to live here that I realised we had been only shown round Owen Owen and as the teachers did not know Coventry they didn't realise it either.

Here is a film from 1950's of Coventry petrol rationing protest. Owen Owen on Trinity St is shown several times

If my memory serves me correctly Owen Owen is on the same site as pre war. Coventry city council wanted them to move sideways, the case went to court and Owen Owen won. That's why there is only a footpath between them and the Leofric.

Not quite Chaingang. The new store overlaps part of the basement of the prewar store but most of the prewar site is under Ironmonger Row

Coventry 1937 - note Coventry Theatre being built

I notice that Trinity St doesn't seem to be there at this date and either side has been cleared for redevelopment.

Another angle, 1937

Here's an old Triumph Motorcycle catalogue front cover from 1956, not a photo but just thought id share it.

Here's a view of the 1930s store destroyed in the war, showing the view down Burges and Trinity Street

Dutchman, as you seem to know these things what was the court case between Owen Owen and the council about, and did Owen Owen win?