Before online shopping, retail parks and next-day delivery, a trip into town throughout Teesside was an event.
Whether buying a first cassette at Hamilton's, school clothes from Geordie Jeans, toys at King's in Saltburn or treats at Woolworths, people across Teesside were spoilt for choice.
Here are 10 lost Teesside shops that still hold a special place in local hearts.
(Image: Photo by Florencia Viadana on Unsplash)
1. Hamilton's Music Store, Middlesbrough
Long before Spotify and iTunes, music lovers made a beeline for Hamilton's Music Store on Corporation Road.
It sold everything from records, sheet music and instruments, with listening booths where customers could try before buying.
Hamilton's closed in 1986, but former staff and customers still regard it as one of Middlesbrough's best-loved music shops.
For many, Hamilton's was their first real introduction to music.
2. Littlewoods, Middlesbrough
Littlewoods (Image: Mirrorpix)
Littlewoods was a Cleveland Centre anchor and a fixture of Middlesbrough shopping trips for decades.
The department store eventually closed in 2002, with the huge unit later split into smaller stores.
Many shoppers will remember heading there for clothing, homewares and Christmas shopping.
3. Robinsons, Stockton
Robinsons (Image: Picture Stockton Archive)
Before Debenhams took over, Stockton shoppers flocked to Robinsons department store.
Founded by Matthias Robinson, the store became one of Stockton's most recognisable buildings, with dozens of departments, restaurants and cafés.
Debenhams bought the business in 1962, and the Robinsons name disappeared completely in the early 1970s.
4. Geordie Jeans, Middlesbrough
Geordie Jeans (Image: Heritage Unlocked)
If you were a teenager in the 1980s or 1990s, you probably bought something from Geordie Jeans.
The Middlesbrough store became a go-to destination for shoppers looking for affordable denim and the latest casual fashion.
The store's jeans developed something of a cult following, with former customers still insisting they were the best-fitting denim money could buy.
5. King's Toy Shop, Saltburn
(Image: Darren Brockman)
Generations of children spent hours peering into King's Toy Shop windows and imagining what Father Christmas might bring.
The independent Saltburn shop was loved for its classic toys, model railways and personal service.
For many, King's represented the golden age of seaside town shopping, when independent toy shops were still a familiar fixture of the high street.
6. Uptons, Middlesbrough
Uptons (Image: Heritage Unlocked)
Uptons was once one of Teesside's best-known retailers, with branches across the region.
Its Linthorpe Road store occupied the Middlesbrough site now associated with Psyche and sold fashion, household goods and more.
Closing its doors for the final time in 2001, many shoppers remember Uptons as the place where their parents bought their school uniforms and household essentials.
7. Woolworths, Redcar
(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
You always knew what you were getting with Woolworths.
Woolworths was a fixture on Redcar High Street and across Teesside for decades, selling sweets, toys, records and DIY supplies.
For many families, Woolworths meant Saturday shopping trips and pick 'n' mix.
Its closure in late 2008, after the national chain collapsed, marked the end of an era in Redcar and across Britain.
Redcar was home to the last Woolworths in Teesside, with shoppers flocking to the store during its closing-down sale before the shutters finally came down.
8. Hintons, Billingham
Hintons (Image: Heritage Unlocked)
Before supermarket giants took over, many Billingham residents did their weekly shop at Hintons.
The grocery chain was once a familiar sight across the North East, selling fresh food and household staples before Tesco and Asda dominated the market.
9. Chelsea Girl, Stockton
(Image: Echo)
For generations of young women, Chelsea Girl was the place to find the latest fashion.
A familiar fixture in Stockton town centre throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Chelsea Girl attracted shoppers looking for affordable fashion and the latest trends.
For plenty of young Teessiders, leaving with one of the store's bags felt like a badge of honour.
The brand eventually became River Island, but older generations still remember it as Chelsea Girl.
10. British Home Stores, Middlesbrough
BHS (Image: Northern Echo)
Known as BHS, British Home Stores occupied a prominent corner of Middlesbrough town centre for decades.
BHS sold clothes, lighting, furniture and home accessories, with a café for post-shopping meals.
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The chain's collapse in 2016 brought the curtain down on one of the North East's most recognisable retail names.
Its closure marked the end of an era for Middlesbrough shoppers, with the former store later becoming home to Sports Direct and Flannels.
Which high street shop would you bring back? Let us know in the comments.