Leo
I also thought Diggory was talking about recent times according to his original post as he talks about his memory serving him well. Well I know my memory is not that good so I looked it up, the branch at 17 Adderley Road was opened in 1881 and was named Branch number 1, this caused confusion less than 20 years later when they transferred to 3-5 Alum Rock Road (next to the Tilt Hammer and called that Branch number 1. Don't forget these were the Birmingham Industrial Co-operative Ltd. As we all know the BCS number 1 branch was on the corner of Great Francis Street & Newdegate Street and it also opened in 1881.
I could find no further record of a Co-op branch shop in Adderley Street between 1881 and 1974, although there was a Wrensons grocery shop at one time. Though I have to say that I find all these names a little confusing myself. BCS, CWS, BIC, surely they were all the same outfit? Another thing, I always knew Adderley Road as Adderley Park Road and always thought that was the official name and even though I have often seen it referred to as such apparently it has been Adderley Road since it was cut,
Photo of Branch Number 1 17 Adderley Street.