I wanted to look up the Fribourg & Treyer shop on Haymarket just to see what it looks like today. Sadly this is what it has become…
Fancy that 
It actually pisses me off that a historical place such as this has been degraded to a lowly tourist shop. In the US this would have never happened. The Historic Society would have stepped in and made this a “historic landmark” preventing it from becoming such an atrocity.
or turned it into a Starbucks
What a sad site, at least its not a McDonalds
So, anybody wins the lottery, lets bring it back. Failing that, if Roderick becomes a multi millionaire selling snuff to americans, he knows what to do.
Oh where is everybodies can do additude? Let’s just infest the place and pretend it’s the Fribourg and Treyer. We’ll pretend to be demented and unaware it’s not. We’ll go into the shop and ask for our favorite snuff and call who ever is behind the counter Vivian. We’ll say “Vivian you used to be a gentleman what happened?” they’ll have to close it will be awesome.
““It actually pisses me off that a historical place such as this has been degraded to a lowly tourist shop.” It’s full of teddy bears with Union Jack waistcoats or clothed as beefeaters, plastic union flags, umbrellas and t-shirts emblazoned with ‘I love London’ and a host of other junk made in the sweatshops of the Far East. One hundred years ago the premises was already a place of curiosity to visitors - even more so in the 1970s. The ancient stencilled pane in the second column, second row of the right-hand bow window is the only remaining relic of the building’s long history as a snuff shop. The wording is similar to that found on the tin. “The Historic Society would have stepped in and made this a “historic landmark” preventing it from becoming such an atrocity.” To which Historic Society are you referring? The building never belonged to Fribourg & Treyer. It was one of the premises to a private business that was bought by the Imperial Group. The latter is also a business and they considered the shop to be unprofitable and withdrew. Buildings themselves might be subject to preservation orders, but not the businesses. “In the US this would have never happened.” Can’t agree with you there. There has been huge cultural destruction in parts of the USA. Charlotte is a good example. The efforts of preservationists couldn’t save hundreds of historical buildings from the bulldozer. Marauding Union soldiers were trifles compared with the widespread destruction in the quest for the mighty dollar.
The current proprietors seem unaware that the proper noun ‘london’ is ‘London’. Fancy That? Well actually, no, I don’t.
There you go! 
@PhilipS I would have to whole heartedly agree with you. The saying “out with the old, in with the new” is pretty contagious. It’s just a shame and in instances like this it’s just a big bummer. Regarding the Historical Society, in the States buildings,bridges,tunnels,train tracks,gardens practically anything can become a historical landmark preventing it from being destroyed or becoming a gift shop. Most States have their own Historical Society that receives proposals to deem a certain place a “historical landmark”. Of course, the place in question must have historical significance and most important a traceable/documented past.
@giaach Not to mention the miles of paperwork and people that actually care enough to fight for it. Paved Paradise n Put up a “Made in China” giftshop!
I dunno, looks more to me like a Photoshop than a gift-shop! 
lol!! cheezy barstard!!
I dunno, I would have named it “Ello Guv’Nur” instead of “Fancy that”
Here’s some photos from today’s Detroit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/jan/02/photography-detroit?mobile-redirect=false Atrocious.
Thanks for sharing that Jari. Detroit is one of the saddest places. This needs to be widely circulated. If enough people know, it can perhaps be saved.