This year already appears to be full of twists and turns as it has been revealed the German boss of the once revered 'Woolies' wants stores on British high streets.

Woolworths boasted stores in Southend, Wickford, Leigh, Hadleigh, Canvey, Basildon, Westcliff, Rayleigh and Billericay during its heyday.

However, in 2009 after the financial crisis, its British shops closed their doors for the final time. The brand in Germany, where it is known as Woolworth, was saved by HH Holding.

Echo:

Could it come back? - the Woolworths store on Rayleigh High Street was turned into a restaurant following its closure in 2009

 

Whenever our readers discuss which long gone shops they wish could return to our High Streets, Woolworths is always the most popular choice.

And their prayers may soon be answered, as current HH Holding chief Roman Heini seeks to expand internationally and says the UK is on his "bucket list" of destinations.

Echo:

Roll call - members of staff at Woolworths’ Southend High Street store line-up for a group photograph in 1950

 

Reacting to the news, Echo reader Gerry Rymill commented: "We need this store back in Southend High Street."

However, not all readers are convinced it would be the same. 

Robin N Chris Pask commented: "The problem is....that yes time moves on. The High Street struggles with high rents and rates. So if Woolworths comes back to the High Street then another store will close. There is only so much money to be spent. But who now owns Woolies?"

 

Echo:

Outside - Councillor Peter Dolby stands in front of the Woolworths store on Leigh’s Broadway shortly after the shop closed its doors for the final time

 

Echo:

End of an era - Southend High Street waved goodbye to its Woolworths store when it shut its doors for the last time in January 2009

The retailer opened a small premises at 29 Southend High Street on April 25, 1914.

A cinema front was added in 1957, when the store was extended to span 29-35 High Street.

It was enlarged further in 1977, while the upper sales floor and restaurant were closed in 1988.

The entire store was shut in January 2009.

Echo:

Standing together - John Rushton (left) and David Harrison outside the closed Woolworths on Wickford High Street in February 2009

 

Scroll down to for more of a look back at south Essex's Woolworths stores

Echo:

Happy to meet again - a host of former Woolworths employees who worked at the Southend High Street store in the 1950s and 1960s enjoyed a get together at Sands Restaurant in 2012

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Treasure trove - ex-workers at the Southend High Street store shared memories and photographs from their days at Woolworths

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Getting festive - Southend Woolworths employees at a Christmas party when the high streets were booming and online shopping did not exist

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Rolling back the years - Maria Brown (far left), from Eastwood, worked at Southend’s Woolworths 60 years ago

Echo:

Memories - the pic ‘n’ mix sweets found at Woolworths were a favourite with children