| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Genre | Department store |
| Founded | 1913 |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Fate | Liquidation |
| Headquarters | Southend-on-Sea |
Key people | J. F. Dixon |
Dixons[1][2] was an independent department store that opened its doors in Southend, England, during 1913 and closed for good 60 years later in 1973.
History
J. F. Dixon, a draper from Upper Norwood, South London opened his own drapery store in 1913.[3] The store was located on the corner of London Road, Southend-on-Sea on what was then called The Broadway, now known as the High Street with its main competitors being Keddies, Brightwells and Thomas Brothers.[4] Dixon was the son of a draper, John Dixon who ran his own drapery business in Gainsborough and Stoke Newington. J.F Dixon would go onto buy his father's business in Gainsborough in 1932.[2] The Southend store was re-developed under the design of architect Mr Grover, who had previously designed the Southend stores of Garons and Ravens,[5] with the work being completed by 1938.[6] This included building on the site of the former Theatre Deluxe[3] and had over 40,000 square feet in total. The store was modernised with the installation of escalators at the cost of £25,000 in 1956.[7] In 1963 the business joined the national five day opening movement, closing on Wednesdays and opening until 8 p.m. on Fridays.[8] During the 60s, Dixons was innovative with its advertising having mannequins on display in glass boxes in Southend High Street,[9] while in 1968 the store opened a new department aimed at younger females called Tomorrow's Girl on the first floor.[10] The Gainsborough and Southend businesses were closed voluntary by John F. Dixon in 1972 and 1973.[11][12][13][14] Dixon himself would lead the fundraising for the Palace Theatre trust in 1980, and the new studio was named Dixon Studio after him.[15]
The buildings today
The store's buildings were purchased by the Hammerson group in 1974 and split into three retail units.[16] It is today occupied by WHSmith, Burger King, Toy n Tuck (Queens Road) and the Lawrence Matthews Art Shop (Queens Road). J F Dixons was not related to Dixons Retail (now Dixons Carphone Warehouse), also started in Southend.
References
- ^ Skinner, Nicholas. "Keddies". Southend Timeline. Retrieved 17 September 2014
- ^ a b The Archivist Report. 1972.
- ^ a b "Dixons". Southend Museums Placeify. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ Dee Gordon (2006). Southend Memories. ISBN 9780750953283.
- ^ "Obitutary Mr Glover". The Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects. 42: 458. 1932.
- ^ "Reference: D/DS 481/8". Essex Record Office. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ "Southend on Sea". Electrical Times. 130: 35. 1956.
- ^ "But Princes Street Shops ask for Six Days". Leathergoods. 93: 45.
- ^ "Dixons Mannequins". Southend Museums Placeify. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ "J.F.Dixon". Leathergoods. Vol. 104. 1968. p. 63.
- ^ "J. F. Dixon Limited". the London Gazette. No. 46152. 13 December 1973. p. 14865.
- ^ "J. F. Dixon (Gainsborough) Limited". The London Gazette. No. 45849. 12 December 1972. p. 14473.
- ^ "J. F. Dixon (Gainsborough) Limited". The London Gazette. Vol. 11. 1974. p. 1832.
- ^ "J.F. Dixon Limited". The London Gazette. Vol. 11. 1974. p. 11183.
- ^ "Construction of the Dixon Studio". Palace Theatre History. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Southend Store Sold". The Estates Gazette. 232: 1237.
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