Manchester's lost underground shopping centre sold 39p bacon and was 'only place' to buy skinny jeans in the 1970s
06.10.2022 - 08:59
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
In the 1970s and 80s, Manchester city centre had an underground shopping centre with almost everything shoppers could ever want and need.
Market Centre opened in 1972 and had numerous entrances, including one on Brown Street and another on Norfolk Street. It was home to around 100 stores where shoppers could get their hands on food, clothes, vinyls and more.
Fashion boutique Stolen From Ivor, which stocked Levi jeans, had a shop there, as well as record store Manchester Underground Records Import. Other music shops included Collectors Records, Yvonne’s record stall and Spinn In Records.
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In an article published by the MEN in 2019, it was reported that broadcaster Mike Sweeney bought his jeans from the Market Centre in the 70s. He said: "When I stopped wearing flares, the first time I started to wear what I now call 'skinnys' was in 1977 and that was the only place you could buy tight jeans outside of London."
Another MEN article from 2017 reported that councillor Pat Karney also bought his jeans from the Market Centre. He recalled: "It was exotic. It was so different to any other shopping experience in Manchester at the time.
"As teenagers, people met all their friends there and there were one or two cafes. It was a real meeting point for the young - you could get away from your parents there. It was quite similar to the old Corn Exchange and was full of surprises.
"They were all units rather than shops and that’s what made it pretty magical. Things would change from what they were a week earlier."
It's believed the