Londoners upset as spot that was ‘amazing in the 90s’ to be replaced

There’s no shortage of places to shop in London, from Oxford Street to Westfield, and beyond.

While many will hit these areas today, in the 90s, it was a spot in South London that was the go-to for many – St Nicholas Shopping Centre in Sutton.

As with most high streets, the shopping centre has lost many major retailers (although it still has a Primark, a Claire’s and a Perfume Shop) and online shopping has meant that the space is largely empty.

With dwindling customer numbers, the iconic mall is set to face the same fate as many of the other UK’s shopping centres: closure.

Sutton Council announced its redevelopment plans for the town centre in October 2022, and now, having partnered with a construction company, they are well underway. 

As part of the regeneration, the Council announced around 740 new homes, 50% of which will be affordable housing for local families, including nearly 300 homes for social rent, as well as a brand new ‘civic hub’, a new library and a retail centre.

It means the shopping centre will look very different.  

Built in 1992, the centre looks straight out of a 90s chick flick.

Over the years shoppers have left a number of reviews for the mall online, withZieshan Akhtar recalling how it had once been ‘amazing’ but was now looking ‘shabby’.

He posted: ‘I still remember when this shopping centre opened in the early 90s and going as a young boy with my family to see the cool fountains (people used to treat these as wishing wells and throw coins in…), skylights and loads of amazing cool shops.

‘Now its many units especially in once famous food court on the top floor is desolate. Big names have disappeared, some escalators and lifts are non functional and fountains are all gone! My, how shabby this place has turned.’

Meanwhile, another customer who visited in summer called the shopping centre an ‘eerie liminal space where you can experience the Backrooms in real life.’ 

‘The Backrooms’ refers to a realm made up of non-descript and empty rooms — a creepypasta which became popular on the internet in 2019. 

The reviewer said the shopping centre was uncharacteristically empty (due to it being the summer holidays), and added that being there felt ‘unsettling’ and ‘surreal’.

‘I hope to never go back,’ they added.

Still, many reviews claim the centre is still important, despite its deterioration over the years, suggesting that with some funding and a ‘revamp’ it could get back to being the hub it once was — and not everybody is happy with the plan to demolish it.

‘I can’t believe the council is replacing an architecturally significant modernist complex with this,’ wrote Sutton local Sarah on Twitter. 

‘The civic centre and library are a part of Sutton’s historic architectural fabric. 

‘Sutton has already been depleted of countless historic landmarks to business deals.’

On Facebook, Marilyn Allen said the change was ‘so sad’, while Janice Bone thought the move was ‘soulless’.

Elgee Faure added: ‘Another set to go. Sad times. Edgware, Woolwich, Sutton and probably more.’

What are your thoughts on the demolition of St Nicholas Shopping Centre?Comment Now

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Sutton Council, commented: ‘We want to create a place which is open to everyone in the community all day and evening. 

‘New retail, leisure and community use in the St Nicholas Centre will provide more choice and improve the long-term future of our main town centre.’

The proposed Civic Hub should be completed by mid-2029.

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