Co-Operative Stores

The Co-operative Stores is a department store and office building located on Newgate Street in Newcastle upon Tyne. It was constructed between 1931 and 1932 by L G Ekins, the architect for the Co-operative Wholesale Society, for the Newcastle Co-operative Society Ltd. The building features a steel frame and is faced with Springwell sandstone ashlar, topped with a green mosaic on the upper storeys and a green pantiled roof. It is designed in an Art Deco style and stands four storeys tall with attics and two towers, arranged in a pattern of 6:1:15:1:7 bays, totaling 30 bays. The three left bays were added in 1959 in a style that replicates the original design.

The entrances are located in tall square towers, each featuring three full-height windows with vertical and diagonal glazing bars and tall opening lights. The tops of the towers are stepped under a set-back fluted band, while the set-back top storey has horizontal windows with decorative glazing bars and wrought iron crestings. The 15 bays between the towers have altered ground floor windows, and giant pilasters above support a deep fascia and a wrought-iron balcony with a wave pattern. On the top floor, columns with lotus capitals are found in front of tall casements, which have fish-scale glazing bars in the overlights, while other windows are casements with glazing bars. The left bays are in a plainer style and feature two square-headed dormers. The right curved corner bays have a central panel on the first and second floors with a shallow canted bay, and the dormer above has fluted stone pilasters, with plainer dormers over the end bays. The left tower is topped with a barometer, while the right tower features a clock with the letters "C O O P E R A T I V E" in place of numbers.

Inside, the building boasts marble staircases with marble balustrades, and the steel handrail is supported by small figures in a flowing style. The stairwell walls are clad in marble with shaped door surrounds, and corner display cases have decorative glazing bars. A historical note mentions that at the opening in 1932, a distinguished guest was presented with a television set.