Our Heritage
1909
On 4th March, wealthy American retailer Gordon Selfridge opens his own £400,000 London store and the magnificent neoclassical Selfridges building transforms the face of Oxford Street.
1920s
The years following the First World War prove very successful and, by 1928, the store has doubled in size.
1940s
The Second World War years prove a very lean time for the store and, in 1947, Gordon Selfridge dies in his sleep.
1950s
At the beginning of the decade, Gordon Selfridge's old rival Lord Woolton, chairman of Lewis', buys the store for £3.4m.
1960s
In 1965, Miss Selfridge opens up to sell fashion designs by Pierre Cardin, among others, to young women.
1990s
In 1994, a five-year masterplan to totally transform Selfridges is launched. In 1998, Selfridges de-merges from the Sears group and a brand new Selfridges store opens in Trafford Park in Manchester.
2000 to date
In 2003, Selfridges is purchased by W. Galen Weston, English-born Chairman and President of George Weston Limited, a Canadian family business that processes and distributes food products throughout North America. Both he and his wife Hilary are intimately involved with the development and growth of this important company and have played a key role in creating the Selfridges you see today.
