Magdalen Way, Gorleston

Branch No. 21 was one of the last shops to be built by the Great Yarmouth Works Department (with help from local builders).

Land was leased from the local Council (at a rent of £5 a year), on a new council estate currently being built on the outskirts of Gorleston - it was named "The New College Estate" (all the roads were named after colleges).

The Store was completed in 1959 and totalled 2,500sq feet, and was at the time the biggest food store in the burgh.

The store originally comprised of food, butchery and a haberdashery department selling homeware and a large Babywear & Electrical Departments was located on a first floor balcony.

Also trading near-by in a separate premises was the Co-op Pharmacy, until it was closed in the late 1960's.

A Pharmacy department was added several years later in the main store after it had undergone a large extension to the front of the building in the 1990's.

By 2016 it is still trading under the Co-op banner, having been owned by Norwich Co-op, Ipswich & Norwich Co-op and currently East of England Co-op.

Manager
Mr Philip Holman, was appointed Manager of the new store. In 1976 he was transferred to the Market Place Grocery, were after a few years, retired with over 50 years service with the Co-op.