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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Lifestyle
Diane Burke

Belfast remembers beloved department store Anderson & McAuley

We decided to look back at one of Belfast's former favourite shops that sadly is no longer trading on our city's streets - Anderson & McAuley.

The shop that used to reside on the corner of Donegall Place and Castle Street for over 130 years is fondly remembered by generations of Belfast residents as a luxurious shopping destination in the heart of the city.

The iconic department store was first opened back in 1861 by two brothers, Robert and Alexander Anderson, and went into business with John McAuley. The retailer prided itself on the family atmosphere it aimed to create for its customers.

Read more: Win a deep dive into your family history with Ancestry including a DNA test

An advertisement for Irish linen goods available by mail order from Anderson & McCauley in Belfast (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In 1956, the department store made history as one of the first shops in Northern Ireland to install escalators and people paid the store a visit just to see and experience them.

A trip into town over the weekend wouldn't be complete without paying the prestigious department store a visit that gave shoppers a glimpse into a world of style. The experience was a treat that will stir happy memories for many people from their childhood.

Anderson & McAuley will be etched in many people's memories as one of the prime destinations to experience Belfast at Christmas time with impressive window displays that even had moving puppets.

Unfortunately, the former beloved family-owned shop served customers for the last time in 1994. Today, the building known as McAuley house is home to retailers Clarks and Zara.

Let us know in the comments what era of Belfast brings back the most nostalgic memories for you.

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