Did Escom have a store in Luton in the mid-90s?

squirminator2k · 05 July 2021, 23:54

For anyone UK based who may have either lived in Luton during the 90s or at least visited the town: I realize this is a bit of a longshot, but I'm hoping someone can help me bring some clarity to a vague memory from my childhood.

I grew up in Luton, and I half-remember there being an Escom store in the Arndale Centre at some point mid-90s, possibly near where the Woolworths used to be. I would've been 9 or 10 when it was there. I think the store was gone less than a year later.

I can't find anything about it online. Most of the photos I can find of the Arndale are very recent, or are from the 70s-80s (lots of lovely photos of the pink flamingos!) but bugger-all about the Escom store. Did I imagine it?

knightbeat · 06 July 2021, 01:01

Your memory is correct. Escom claimed to have 200+ stores in the UK, including 2 in Luton. It looks like Unit 21 in the Arndale Centre, with an Office World in.... Castle Street(?) in the link below: https://retroportblog.files.wordpres...g_a1200_23.jpg

http://ftp.bambi-amiga.co.uk/amigahistory/3rdamiga.html

squirminator2k · 06 July 2021, 01:52

Nice! What a find. Thank you!

I remember the Office World (last time I went back to visit it'd become a Staples), but I don't think I ever went in as a kid.

Now I'm trying to remember where unit 21 was located. The Arndale has changed hands a couple of times since and I can't find a map of the unit layout from '95.

Edit: Looks like the unit numbers are the same, and it's more-or-less exactly where I thought it was! Wonderful. It's a pity I can't seem to find any photos, but that wasn't ever likely.

CCCP alert · 01 May 2024, 10:08

There was an Escom where I lived too, they had A1200/4000 and C= branded tower PCs. Was kinda weird feeling going in there.

Megalomaniac · 01 May 2024, 19:16

They had one in Eastbourne's Arndale Centre too, think it's a Card Factory now, but they barely gave Amigas any attention, almost entirely concentrating on PCs. It annoyed me at the time, but looking back they were probably right that it wasn't going to be a major seller, even with all that software and for half the price of a Windows 95 PC - especially once the compatibility issues with the disk drives became apparent.

05 July 2021, 23:54	#1
squirminator2k Dream17 / PortsCenter guy Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Los Angeles Age: 38 Posts: 311	Did Escom have a store in Luton in the mid-90s? For anyone UK based who may have either lived in Luton during the 90s or at least visited the town: I realize this is a bit of a longshot, but I'm hoping someone can help me bring some clarity to a vague memory from my childhood. I grew up in Luton, and I half-remember there being an Escom store in the Arndale Centre at some point mid-90s, possibly near where the Woolworths used to be. I would've been 9 or 10 when it was there. I think the store was gone less than a year later. I can't find anything about it online. Most of the photos I can find of the Arndale are very recent, or are from the 70s-80s (lots of lovely photos of the pink flamingos!) but bugger-all about the Escom store. Did I imagine it?

06 July 2021, 01:52	#3
squirminator2k Dream17 / PortsCenter guy Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Los Angeles Age: 38 Posts: 311	Nice! What a find. Thank you! I remember the Office World (last time I went back to visit it'd become a Staples), but I don't think I ever went in as a kid. Now I'm trying to remember where unit 21 was located. The Arndale has changed hands a couple of times since and I can't find a map of the unit layout from '95. Edit: Looks like the unit numbers are the same, and it's more-or-less exactly where I thought it was! Wonderful. It's a pity I can't seem to find any photos, but that wasn't ever likely. Last edited by squirminator2k; 06 July 2021 at 01:57.

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06 July 2021, 01:01	#2
knightbeat Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: UK Posts: 28	Your memory is correct. Escom claimed to have 200+ stores in the UK, including 2 in Luton. It looks like Unit 21 in the Arndale Centre, with an Office World in.... Castle Street(?) in the link below: https://retroportblog.files.wordpres...g_a1200_23.jpg http://ftp.bambi-amiga.co.uk/amigahistory/3rdamiga.html

01 May 2024, 10:08	#4
CCCP alert Registered User Join Date: May 2023 Location: essex Posts: 457	There was an Escom where I lived too, they had A1200/4000 and C= branded tower PCs. Was kinda weird feeling going in there.

01 May 2024, 19:16	#5
Megalomaniac Registered User Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Eastbourne Posts: 1,013	They had one in Eastbourne's Arndale Centre too, think it's a Card Factory now, but they barely gave Amigas any attention, almost entirely concentrating on PCs. It annoyed me at the time, but looking back they were probably right that it wasn't going to be a major seller, even with all that software and for half the price of a Windows 95 PC - especially once the compatibility issues with the disk drives became apparent.

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