Shopping in 21st Century Dundee


by Naz Daud - Date: 2007-06-18 - Word Count: 509 Share This!

Dundee, as everyone knows is the possessor of a great and wealthy socio-economic history. There was so much wealth in Dundee during the late Victorian period that it is hard to comprehend in today's terms.

However, this wealth was very poorly distributed and was mainly contained in the hands of a few wealthy merchants and factory owners; obviously to support this came bankers, lawyers, dentists, architects, teachers, etc.

Thus grew up within the city a variety of specialist shops such as men's outfitters, milners, ladies' dress shops, tailors etc.and of course, great department stores such as Draffens and WM.Browns.

This state of affairs lasted until approximately the mid-1960 when the old Overgate was demolished and replaced, thereby concentrating the shopping away from the Wellgate to the other end of town.

In 1978, the old Wellgate was replaced by the Wellgate Centre, thereby pulling the shopping efforts of the Dundee public away from the Overgate Centre and eventually leading to the present day state of affairs whereby we have a vibrant Overgate Centre but with a Wellgate Centre and Murraygate still coping as most people have to go through theses areas to reach the heart of the town.

Present-day

To add to this we now have a completely pedestrianised city centre so in effect both ends are now linked and this still proves attractive to shop owners as the passing traffic is substantial.

Thus a much wider variety of shops is now apparent, providing a greater choice for the shopper, coupled with an array of different kinds of restaurants available to satisfy shoppers' en-route to their next destination.

This kind of fore thought has led big department stores such as Debenhams to locate their, bringing with them an array of in-house designer stores and providing a greater choice of shopping then Dundee has ever seen before.

Indeed, it is possible, without leaving the Overgate, to purchase almost everything one needs in terms of luxury items without even leaving the centre.

Many people use Debenhams as a wedding-list shop as it contains practically everything one would require and additionally has an excellent restaurant when the going gets a bit long and tough.

Additionally, due to Dundee's hugely expanded University population and similar developments at the Ninewells teaching hospital, Dundee has experienced a cultural change in terms of foods and ethnic goods available.

So all in all and with great generalisation it is possible, and is regularly practised to spend a day shopping in Dundee whatever it is the goods are that are being sought after.

Along the way of course, refreshments are available, whether it be traditional, Indian, Italian,Chinese, light lunch, full lunch or even traditional afternoon tea.

Everyday shopping

On the riverfront in Dundee, there is situated, just beside Dundee's flagship, the Discovery, Captain Scott's ship, one of the largest and most successful Tesco superstores, where one can purchase everything from fine wines to hi-fi equipment.

Since this is situated just beside the famous Tay Bridges and railway station, it lends itself to a perfect rounding off of the day, should it be necessary.

Chris Fawcett
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