It's a wonder that Lewis's ever closed, because everytime department stores come up on a forum it is always Lewis's that comes to the fore. We had many other large stores in Birmingham. Whilst I don't know a lot about them in the 50's. I had a lot of experience of them in the 60's.
There was quite a few Lewis.s (of course) Rackhams, Greys, C & A , Marks & Sparks, Woolworths, Henry's, Beehive, Boots, Littlewoods, BHS. There were others of course but these are the ones that we lads would pass the day strolling around. The ones that were big enough not to be pounced on by the sales staff trying to sell you something.
There was only one thing us lads had our eyes open for and that was a likely lass to chat up for a date. Our little firm used to have bets on who we could chat up and those that would just deff us out. Not very gentlemanly I agree but great fun. Then there were the bets on the girls from Rackhams & Miss Selfridge who thought themselves something special. There was a standing bet on who would be the first to date a girl from those stores.
The trouble is after a while the girls learned of our little game and none of us was able to get a date. Shame it was great fun while it lasted and it could be profitable.
Phil