“I remember it like it was yesterday”
Former customers of a “boss little shop” in Liverpool that “never charged more than 50p for anything” still have items they brought from there decades on. The ECHO recently took a look back at Morgan’s Famous 50p Store – which, as its name explains, sold hundreds of items that cost 50p each.
Visited by generations of children who loved to spend their pocket money, or students looking to stock up stationary and home supplies, the business first opened its doors in 1983. An immediate success, the business was owned by Chris Morgan.
At the time, the concept of selling all goods, ranging from toiletries to tools and food to stationery for the same price – 50p – was unheard of. It’s now been years since the shop was on Bold Street, but it lives on in the memories of those who went there.
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Many ECHO readers have since shared their fond memories of the now lost Bold Street store. On our Facebook page, El Fau said: “Omg a blast from the past on Bold Street, loved this shop, remember it like it was yesterday!”
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Robert Kennedy said: “Best shop ever and I think we still have the coat hangers from their.” Sarah Ogg wrote: “Stocked my student house from here. Still got some stuff 30 years on.”
Kelly Gemmell commented: “Used to go in here with my nan every weekend with our pocket money, we loved it.” Suzi Sioux said: “Boss little shop.”
Lyn Senior said: “Used to take my eldest son back in the 80s, after shopping we would go in there and he would get drawing paper and feltips and other bits and bobs.” Kathleen Murphy Howard commented: “Going back to school all your pens and pencils, loved it x.”
Roshean Johnston wrote: “This was one of my favourite shops to visit as a kid along with Contraband around the corner, no one else I’ve spoken to seems to remember these places.” Mandie Houghton posted: “I used to love this shop as a child growing up.”
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Julie Parker commented: “I used to love the 50p shop – fab for foil Christmas garlands in the basement going back to the late 80’s. It was an Aladdin’s cave. Fantastic little shop back in the day.”
Alfie Moon said: “Got all my little bits for my first flat here, cups, glasses, kitchen utensils, tea towels etc. Loved this shop and visited at least twice a month.” Kirsty Cashen wrote: “Chris is an absolute Legend.”
Denise Gwillym wrote: “I loved this shop as a kid, you could get all kinds.” And Caroline Kelly said: “Every Saturday with my nan and then a book from WHS – brought back a lovely memory x.”
Chris, a former market trader, previously told the ECHO how it was a nerve-wracking first day for him and his family opening his new venture on Bold Street. He said: “We gambled everything, the house, the lot, and were down to our last £60 before we opened.
“We spent £50 on an advert in the ECHO and £10 on a very nervous meal the night before the opening. Fortunately, the ad did the trick, because when we opened we had a queue down Bold Street and had to limit the number of people coming in.
“It was quite a sight to see the queues in Bold Street.” One image, courtesy of our archives, shows Chris outside the Bold Street shop and many will remember Morgan’s Famous 50p Store as it’s seen here.
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An advertisement from the Liverpool ECHO in 1993 – the shop’s tenth year in business – also offers a glimpse into items available in store at the time. This included tools, toys, housewares, ornaments, toiletries, silk flowers, cigarette lighters, baby items, electronic pocket calculators and more.
The ad reads: “Probably the most amazing shopping experience that you are ever likely to have. We are the UK’s leading stock disposal experts and we fill our shops with manufacturers end of ranges, importers clearances and liquidation stocks.
“The really clever thing is that no matter what its original price, we never charge more than 50p for anything in store.” The 50p shop was another firm favourite in the city and many ECHO readers have recalled bagging many a bargain there.
Paul Jones previously said: “The 50p shop! My nan used to take me there for a toy on the way round town on a Saturday morning when I was too young to go to the match (4/5 years old) what a consolation.”
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Amanda Young said: “Definitely the 50p shop! I got the soap on a rope for the uncles and crystal ornaments for the aunties at Christmas from there.” Jo Ferns added: “Morgan’s 50p shop! I used to spend my pocket money in there!”
But in 1999, the shop as we came to know it changed. On July 15, the ECHO reported how Chris was merging Morgan’s 50p shop with its sister store All For One, on the other side of Bold Street – where most items were £1.
At the time, he said: “Within a month it spawned copious imitations, but now I am the only one left in the UK. “We’ll still sell some items two for £1.”
For the dedicated bargain hunters, there was a closing down sale where 50p items were half price. It’s now been years since customers shopped at Morgan’s Famous 50p Store, but it still lives on in the memories of those who went there.
