Kennards of Croydon: The Store that Entertained to Sell: A History of a Debenhams Store

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And, yes, the famous Kennards Arcade which ran from the North End down to Drummond Road sold a wide variety of exotic things, including animals and donkey rides were a highlight. And it's still there, on the same site, on the high street located at one end of the Whitgift Center.

Kennards was very public spirited and gave further assistance with the grower's vegetable market of 1947, which was advertised as being the first market of its kind in Britain. This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use.

Worse still, when I visited and peered through the windows as dusk began to fall, the interior was still lit up, one solitary security guard sat inside, perhaps guarding the memories of a once glorious past. The animals exhibited were quite a large collection of different monkeys in cages with wire fronts, various species of parrots and pet animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. A photograph shows the chetah sitting nonchalantly on a dining table while a waitress shows it a menu, probably hoping it will chose something to eat from the sweet trolley rather than one of the diners! These were an immediate success and such was the demand for rides a year later Mrs Miller was employed to assist Mr Bell.

Right so enough about the history of Kennards … The Menagerie had the following collection Originally hosted some monkeys, a camel, a peacock, some birds and other small animals. I wonder if people thought the same way about the curry houses opening in the late 60's and early 70's on the sites on cafes and stuff? But the really incredible thing about Kennards were the amazing stunts, animal acts and performances that were put on to entice the crowds. Sadly for the young children of Croydon, the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 forced the zoo to close and the animals were found safe lodgings elsewhere.I cannot remember how long the Kennards zoo stayed for in the arcade, it just disappeared when the site was cleared for re-building. The band-leader got in touch with me over a midweek booking that we wanted me to attend, the venue was to be at Kennards blue room, wild horses would not have kept me away. This attracted lots of children with their parents, so they decided to expand the zoo further with more exotic animals. There were tally-ho bargains, mystery tables, streets of adventure, clock days, a real zoo, and Shetland pony rides to name but a few.

pfc was a regualr there for years and a bloke we went to school with was manager there for quite a while.Iowa was Willson's hometown and his inspiration for the film's setting, the fictitious town of River City, Iowa.