Bon Marché (Brixton)

Bon Marché was a department store based in Brixton, London, England. It was the first purpose built department store in the city.[1] The store was founded in 1877 by James Smith of Tooting[2][3] after he won a fortune at Newmarket races.[4][5]The store was named and modelled after Bon Marché in Paris.[6] The store was not successful and Smith went bankrupt in 1892.[7][8]

This article is about a historic department store in Brixton. For the French Department Store, see Le Bon Marché. For other stores of similar name, see Bon Marché (disambiguation).

The new owners were more successful, eventually acquiring nearby stores Quin and Axtens and Pratts of Streatham.[9] Eventually the group was bought by Selfridges.[10][11]

The building went on to be used as a market, retail units, a pub, and a business centre.

The supermarket has two buildings. The main building on the corner of Brixton High Street and Ferndale Road, and Topland House opposite. Topland House was originally built as staff accommodation and currently houses The Department Store bar and restaurant.[12]

Violette Szabo, an SOE secret agent during the Second World War and posthumous recipient of the George Cross, was working at Bon Marché when the war started.

References
  1. "Bon Marche, Ferndale Road, Brixton, Greater London". historicengland.org.uk.
  2. "Young London". The Daily Telegraph. 10 July 1879.
  3. "Records of Bon Marche, Brixton Road". Lambeth Archives.
  4. http://www.bonmarchebusinesscentre.co.uk/History.aspx
  5. "•• Ever wonder who invented shopping? Les Francais, silly". The Independent. 8 April 2000.
  6. "The Builder". 24 March 1877: 288. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "Then and Now: Bon Marche, Ferndale Rd".
  8. "Bon Marche Posters".
  9. "Brixton history – one hundred years of Bon Marché in Brixton – and its secret tunnels". June 29, 2015.
  10. "A GREATER BON MARCHE". No. The Norwood News. 19 October 1934.
  11. "ANOTHER SELFRIDGE DEAL". The Daily Telegraph. 6 Nov 1926.
  12. "A brief history of Bon Marché". South London Club. March 13, 2018.
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