Model Shops in Reading Area

[NoelSmith]

Before I moved to Bedfordshire in the mid 70's I can remember three model shops in Reading. SLEEP's in Kings Road, EAMES on the Station Approach and Reading Model Supplies who were just off the Oxford Road under Chatham St. Multi Storey car park.
Anyone remember Stan Birch at RMS and his assisants Andy Farrell and Gerry? Cannot remember Gerry's surname, but he worked with Stan for many years from when the shop used to be in Hosier Street off the Butts, and when I was very young the shop was opposite St Laurences church near the town hall.
I was in Reading recently and saw that where Sleeps was has been redeveloped. What about the other two as I did'nt get near to where I remembered them to be.

[Loiner]

I remember in the '90s there was only one (that I knew of) which was a Beatties. The one under Chatham St. multi-storey car park must have changed hands and gone by then, but as you say the whole lot's gone now and been redeveloped. Not sure what model shops there are in Reading now as I haven't been round town in a while.

[NoelSmith]

Beatties.......The great swallower up of local model shops in the 80's and early 90's.
They bought out Taylor and McKennas in Milton Keynes and probably the one in Aylesbury as well at the time. Whatever happened to Beatties? Anyone know? All of a sudden they just seemed to disappear from all over the place.

[Deleted]

Several of the Beatties stores were taken over by Modelzone, the rest were probably deemed unprofitable?