Kingstanding Shopping Centre’s demise has begun as demolition excavators were seen smashing shopping units on the eve of the ward’s by-election. Once the bustling heart of Kingstanding Circle, the shopping centre deteriorated over the years as businesses slowly pulled down their shutters for good.
After the remaining shops Card Factory, Farmfoods and Domino’s finally said goodbye just before Christmas, locals said it was like ‘part of your life gone’. The demolition of the retail space and next door Kingstanding Pub will make way for a giant Lidl hoping to inject some investment into the area.
Let’s take a look at Kingstanding Shopping Centre through the years from buzzing retail haven to abandoned entity.
Kingstanding Shopping Centre back in 1966
(Image: B’ham Post and Mail)Over 40 years later, this is what Kingstanding Shopping Centre looked like in 2009
(Image: BPM)Generations of families remember shopping here
(Image: BPM)Throwback to cllr John Cotton at the shopping centre with a petition to elect a mayor for Birmingham
(Image: Mark Theisinger)A dramatic day saw Luke Treen talk a young mom down from the roof after she was threatening to jump. Birmingham Live covered the story in 2014
(Image: Birmingham Mail)A fire broke out at a charity shop in Kingstanding Shopping Centre
Years passed and the shopping centre deteriorated as shops closed down one by one. Boards were splattered with graffiti and windows smashed
(Image: Husna Anjum)A wide view of the abandoned shopping centre
(Image: Martin O’Callaghan / Birmingham Live)(left to right) The staff at Card Factory Colleen Costello, Kirsty Davies, Helen Arlington, Elle Owen said their final goodbye before Christmas
(Image: Husna Anjum)Demolition works officially began as the entire centre was boarded up, as seen on May 29
(Image: Husna Anjum)The space will make way for a giant Lidl store, the opening date is unknown
(Image: Husna Anjum)As per tradition, more graffiti covers the boards until the shopping centre is finally flattened
(Image: Husna Anjum)
