Alas, fellow RiotACTers, another Canberra icon is following the Dickson Tradies Schnitzel into oblivion. Allens, purveyers of all sorts of third tier brands has been taken over by Harris Scarfe and all its stores are in the process of being re-branded. Depite its inherent dagginess, it’s always held a special place in my heart.
The Dickson Allens was an emporium of wonder, the Goulburn outlet supplied me with a cheap hat when a car breakdown forced me to hitchhike to Sydney and the Ulladulla store always had the exact beachwear I required on my annual vists to the coast. Homely, yes. Perpertator of some shockingly bad ‘shouty’ ads, along with some beautifully self conscious (and slightly less shouty) lingerie ads, certainly. But it was a store with a certain amount of charm, albeit as a Cinderella that never got to go to the ball.
I don’t know what the circumstances are, whether it was a forced sale or merger – but its sad to see a local company in a traditional industry taken over by corporate outsiders.