Back to life

This is the old Woolworths Dept Store, when it was built back in 1977 it was the 4th largest in Germany and the 6th largest in Europe. It sold just about everything from furniture to DIY and Curtains, clothes, toys and Electro goods, if you wanted something you went to Woolies first. I arrived in Geldern in August 1977 and stayed in an Hotel not 50 Yards away. also there was the future Manager of the Store, one Herr Wolfe. I did get his first Name but rarely used it, he just oozed Authority! He had spent 5 years in the USA as Manager and was just the man for this new shop. It did well for several years, Herr Wolfe moved on and the variety of goods got less and less. Then Woolworths crashed and the shop was shut in a week and all the Employees sacked, many lost their homes to as there were 6 flats above the Shop for Staff It was bought by some Holding Company and lots of plans were aired but the sheer size of the building stopped most hopefuls. ( The frontage is not so large but it goes thru to the parallel street a good 80 Yard away)
 Last year the Town bought the Site for 1.25 Million and have finally got a buyer and it is now being modernised and Decorated. The new owners? H and M, so it is going back to what it was originally, We wish it Good Luck!!