Suffolk buildings that were once home to Woolworths, with locations in Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Ipswich, and what they are now

Woolworths was once a high-street staple and featured in most big towns with shelves piled high stocking everything from clothes, toys and books to pick n mix sweets and confectionary.

In its prime, Woolworths was the go-to destination for pretty much all essential items, but the company entered administration in early 2009 and was officially disolved in 2015.

Suffolk was home to several Woolworths stores and here’s what has become of some of them since the iconic company collapsed.

Bury St Edmunds

Bury’s Woolworths offering was located in Cornhill and opened in 1928, serving the town for 80 years before it closed in December 2008.

Today, the shop is occupied by Poundland and Sports Direct on the Cornhill side, with Tesco Express at the back on St Andrew’s Street.

Beccles

Woolworths in Beccles stayed open until January 2009, having been described as one of the best-performing stores in the country.

At the time, it was reported that 30 employees had to find new jobs following the closure.

It was found in New Market and had been open since the 1930s. It is now a QD store.

Stowmarket

Stowmarket Woolworths opened in the early 1950s in Ipswich Street.

It closed in December 2008 and is now home to Peacocks.

In November last year, the six-metre Woolworths sign that had been left after the closure went up for sale in Bishop & Miller Auctioneers' Dr Atomica’s Journey into Cool auction.

Ipswich

Many have fond memories of Ipswich Woolworths which opened in Carr Street in the 1920s.

In 1968 it reportedly became the biggest Woolworths in the country at the time, following a huge remodel.

It closed in 2008. It was most recently home to Poundland, which closed in March.

Sudbury

One of the most popular shops in Sudbury’s North Street before its 2009 closure was Woolworths.

Today, the unit is home to an Iceland supermarket.

Lowestoft

Lowestoft’s Woolworths was found at 109 London Road North and opened in the early 1920s.

Since then it has been home to a QD store and then a Poundstretcher, which closed in 2021.

Felixstowe

Felixstowe Hamilton Road was home to a Woolworths from 1931 to 2008.

The store took up the units from 47 to 51 Hamilton Road and was popular with residents.

It is now a Peacocks clothing store.