Bearmans Department Store Plaque

Frank Bearman, a 27-year-old draper, took a leap of faith. He opened Bearmans Department Store in 1898. Bearmans Department Store stood proudly on Leytonstone High Road. The site was previously an old vicarage. He borrowed money from relatives. He poured his heart and soul into making it a success. He lived in the shop with his young family. Bearmans Department Store was their life. By 1906, Bearmans had expanded. It took over a nearby furniture shop. In 1910, Bearman’s Arcade was built, leading to the Rialto Cinema. The arcade mimicked the grand shopping arcades of London. It showcased high-quality goods under a glass roof. Bearmans Department Store became a destination. People from all over East London came to shop there. They bought everything from vinyl records to toys and clothes. The store even survived the Blitz. It closed only once for two weeks due to damage from a V2 rocket. Bearmans Department Store continued to grow. An extension opened in Kirkdale Road in 1957. It boasted what was claimed to be the first escalator outside of London. The store employed 450 people. Frank Bearman died in 1956. The store faced increasing competition. It was sold to the London Co-operative Society in 1962 for £1 million. Bearmans Department Store eventually closed its doors in 1983. A blue plaque now marks the site. It commemorates the legacy of Frank Bearman and his “Store with the Personal Touch”.