Opened in 1877 on the corner of Brixton Road and Ferndale Road, Bon Marche was the first purpose-built department store in London. Inspired by the opulence of the original Bon Marche in Paris, the store was founded by James Smith, a local businessman from Tooting who won £80,000 in prize money when his racehorse Roseberry won an unconceivable double at Newmarket, according to architects Squire & Partners, which have redeveloped many of the historic buildings at this end of Ferndale Road. Bon Marche continued trading until 1975.
