Rare photos unseen for years offer a glimpse into life at a lost "lovely" store where Merseyside mums "always shopped."
For years, many will remember heading to Kirkby town centre to visit Cantors furniture store to buy everything from three-piece suites to dining tables and more. Located on Cherryfield Drive, the shop stood out for its bold black and white logo and also allowed customers to pay in instalments over time for the items bought.
The Kirkby branch first opened in 1975, but at one point, branches could also be found elsewhere in St Helens, Manchester and throughout the country. A national chain, Cantors welcomed customers through its doors for decades and is still well remembered in Merseyside.
READ MORE: 30 photos show the final days at these lost Merseyside factories
READ MORE: A look back at 90s fashion in Liverpool and all the trends you're bound to remember
But, in 1996 it was reported nationally that Cantors and Harvey's had merged and since then, the name has disappeared from our high streets.
But these photos, recently rediscovered from our archives, Mirrorpix, offer a glimpse into Cantors' past in Kirkby. Unseen for years, you can see what the shop looked like back in 1987.
At the time, the ECHO reported how Cantors had announced its closure in Kirkby, but had a "change of heart." On August 18, 1987, the ECHO reported: "The about-turn by the furniture retailers is a response to council plans for a £430,000 town centre clean-up.
"The For Sale notices have been up outside Cantors in Kirkby for 12 weeks when the reprieve came through. but recent behind-the-scenes meetings between top council officials and local traders prompted the Cantors rethink. Jim Keight, council leader, said: "We're delighted with the news. the facelift was designed with this in mind – to encourage and businesses that are here to stay, and to encourage shoppers and other firms back into the town. It bodes well for the future."
Do you remember Cantors in Kirkby? Let us know in the comments section below.
Mr Keight believed Cantors was "won round by the favourable reaction of other shopkeepers to the plans." At the time, the Kirkby store was one of 70 outlets nationally.
The article continutes: "Cantors manager John Palin revealed that its closure has been contemplated for more than a year with turnover disappointing. It would have joined Boots, Woolworths and Woolco in a long list of retailers to pull out. Mr Palin said: "we're now the only major non-food retailer left here."
These images, courtesy of Mirrorpix, show what the exterior of the store looked like at the time, as well as manager Mr Palin outside celebrating the decision to stay open. If you look closely, one image taken in June that year outside the shop front window shows Mr Palin inside the store sitting on furniture with posters of prices included in the sale, such as a Bianco tile top next of tables for £89.95.
By the 1990s, customers began to see Cantors furniture stores disappear. It's may have been years since we were able to visit a branch – but it's not been forgotten in Kirkby.
The ECHO recently reported how workmen uncovered a 'ghost sign' for the famous lost furniture store chain. Beneath the Heron Foods sign on Cherryfield Drive, the Cantors sign was rediscovered.
Ghost signs usually refer to old advertising or business signs which have been preserved on a building for years. Often unnoticeable or hidden away, a number have been spotted across Merseyside in recent years.
The black and white ghost sign was spotted last week by Peter Donaldson who posted a photo on the Kirkby Past and Present Facebook group. The caption reads: "Workmen on Heron Foods taking the signs down uncovering a blast from the past. The old Cantors sign, wow."
Many were quick to share their memories of what Cantors was like in the comments. One person said: "Oh my god, my mum always shopped there." Another said: "Omg I loved Cantors! We got our couch from there in 70/80s x."
One person commented: "Yeah I got lovely grey three piece suite in there. Took few years to pay for it !" One posted: "Got my first three piece suite there many years ago"
Another person wrote: "I remember having to go each week with mum to pay at the window for our dining table and three piece suite" One said: "Cantors turned your house into a home"
One posted: "Got my first suite from here x" One person said: "Oh I remember it well"
Another said: "I remember buying my mum and dad a coffee table from Cantors. Was very expensive but top quality table" One wrote: "Cantors was a lovely shop"
Another person commented: "My nan worked there in the 80s. I remember going in there as a little girl to see her xx", while another person wrote: "That's got to be over 45 years old!"
Merseyside is a place packed with fascinating history, people and stories – and you can keep up to date with it all through our dedicated WhatsApp community. If you'd like to join, click here.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
We also have a Liverpool Memories and History Facebook group. The group is for people to share their memories and photos of Liverpool through the years. Visit the Facebook group here.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
You can also follow our nostalgia reporter Jess Molyneux on Twitter here and her NostalJess videos on Tiktok here.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here