Co-op House, Market Place, Great Yarmouth

The flag ship of the Great Yarmouth Co-op Society opened in 1935, the department store traded in non foods until a food hall was opened in the late 1960's the store was transferred to Norwich co-op Society in 1971, and finally leased to "Vergo Group" in 2009 who within two years closed it, the department store remained closed for several years until it was reopened after being sold by "East of England Co-op Society in 2015.

History

 * 1935 - Co-op begin trading on the Market Place site


 * 1971 - Became part of Norwich Co-op Society


 * July 2009 - The store is taken over by Liverpool-based Vergo Retail


 * Summer 2010 - Vergo closes and the store is left empty


 * June 2013 - Great Yarmouth Borough Council announces plans to turn the shop into an indoor market through a £3.5m scheme


 * July 2013 – The indoor market plan stalls after the council’s bid for £2m government funding is turned down


 * April 2014 – A £4.5m bid is announced to turn the department store into Yarmouth’s first free school


 * January 2015 – Hopes run high that Co-op has been sold


 * March 2015 – East of England Co-op confirms it has sold the department store to Edinburgh Woollen Mill group

Managers

 * Mr S.F Veness 1935.
 * Mr Hansel 1940's
 * Mr Hamilton 1950's
 * Mr Joe Ellis 1960's (until retirement 1970's)