The urban landscape of Birmingham is ever changing but some shops have weathered the tide of time and lasted through decades, and in some cases, centuries.
Birmingham residents fondly remember the shops on and off High Streets, that have come and gone, but this time, we tracked down the oldest surviving shops in the city. The city was the hub of innovation, craft and industry for a long period of time and businesses from long-gone eras still exist - if only we look for them.
From Birmingham city centre to the neighbourhoods, many local businesses have made it over time and are known for their unique products. Here are 15 shops that have been around in Birmingham for a long time, in chronological order:
9. Hat Man, Birmingham city centre - open since 1984
Hat Man on Stephenson Street sells nothing but hats and has been open since 1984. (Photo - Google Maps) | google maps
10. Sims Footwear, Great Western Arcade - opened in 1987
Opened in 1987, Sims Footwear of Birmingham, is situated in the Great Western Arcade. They are the only independent shoe shop in the city centre. | Birminghamworld
11. Ruprai Food & Wines, Kings Heath - open since 1999
Harjinder and Hardev from Ruprai Food & Wines appeared on Joe Lycett’s chat show Late Night Lycett and the corner shop has become popular. It was incoporated in 1999, according to Companies House data. | LTV
12. Bullring, Birmingham city centre - opened in 2003
Bullring has been around in Birmingham as a market since 1154. Two shopping centres were built in the area in the 1960s, and then in 2003. The current version has been around since 2003. (Photo - Jackie Davies - stock.adobe.com) | Jackie Davies - stock.adobe.com