Bobby & Co.

Bobby & Co were a provincial department store group based mainly in seaside towns in England. The business operated from 1887 to 1972.

Early history

In 1887, Frederick James Bobby (1860-1941) bought an established drapery store in Margate,^[1] located on the corner of the High Street and Queen Street. The business grew to incorporate several neighbouring stores. In 1900, the business was incorporated and an expansion programme was started opening stores in specially selected towns, mostly seaside resorts. Stores were opened in Leamington Spa, Folkstone, Eastbourne, Torquay, Cliftonville, Bournemouth, Exeter (formerly Green & Son 1922) & Southport.^[2]

In the 1920s the business employed the artist F Gregory Brown^[3] to design a number of advertisement posters, which were printed by Bobby's own print shop and displayed in Railway stations. Gregory Brown was also employed at the same time by Kensington department store Derry & Toms.

1927-1972

In 1927, Frederick Bobby retired from his business, selling his shares to the retail conglomerate the Drapery Trust. The Bobby & Co group were run as a separate entity within the trust, and were chaired by Frederick Bobbys son. The company was funded to further expand and opened stores in Southsea, Reading, Berkshire, Worthing, Worcester and Tornes. In addition to the expansion, the Margate store was refurbished in 1937.^[4]

In the 1970s Debenhams, the owners of the Drapery Trust decided to rationlise the business and bring it under the one brand. The Bobby & Co stores in Margate and Cliftonville were closed in 1972,^[5] while the other businesses were rebranded as Debenhams.

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