US/UK equivalents

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I was wondering the other day about the various shops and services that are available in the States, and how closely they conform to places elsewhere... I already had the very dislocating experience of having to suss everything out when I first arrived in the UK (almost four years ago) from Australia; thought it might save me some time if I heard some opinions beforehand this time around!

so accordingly, please let me know what YOU THINK are the US equivalents of the following (caps used because I know this will depend on region, and opinion, and there's no One Right Answer, and some of those places already exist in the US, and it's all a bit of fun really )

Primark -

Waitrose -

M&S -

Tesco -

Next -

Monsoon -

Wagamama -

Jessops -

Woolworths -

Debenhams -

The Body Shop -

Traidcraft -

Threshers -

Med Kitchen -

Paperchase -

Yo! Sushi -

there'll be more... please add some, or I will when I think of them

[Jeraly 4]

Primark -

Waitrose -

M&S -

Tesco -

Next -

Monsoon -

Wagamama -

Jessops -

Woolworths -

Debenhams -

The Body Shop -

Traidcraft -

Threshers -

Med Kitchen -

Paperchase -

Yo! Sushi -

English Pubs (general) -

DFS -

B&Q -

Again - I am sure there are more and I know there is Ikea but I want to know where we are going to get furniture for our house

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

wagamama? #######?

[*julez* 124]

We have The Body Shop in the US too. (I love their hemp hand cream!) I'm not familiar enough with most of the others you mentioned or the area you'll be living in to offer more than that!

B&Q is the same as Home Depot or Lowes, as far as I know!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I'd say Target is kinda equivalent to Primark for the clothes though probably better.

Grocery stores are very regional, so it would be hard to say. Where I live, Bristol Farms is close to Waitrose and Ralph's is equivalent to Tescos.

There is no Wagamama or Yo sushi equivalent, though where I live not an issue since there are so many good and cheap Japanese places.

Threshers - no real equivalent since all liquor stores seem to be mom and pop type places

Paperchase - most Borders have a paperchase in them

Bodyshop - we have body shop where I live, maybe the Bath and Body works is an equivalent. But who cares about that when you have SEPHORA!

Next-Gap

Monsoon-Ann Taylor

Jessops-can't think of an equivalent, most camera shops are mom and pop where I live

[Toshtishtash 1]

Primark - New York & Company

Waitrose - Walmart or Martins

M&S - A mixture of maybe Nordstrums and Wegmens?

Tesco - Walmart

Next - Gap

Monsoon -

Wagamama - Nothing like

Jessops - ?

Woolworths - Hallmark

Debenhams - Hechts or Nordstrums

The Body Shop - The Body Shop

Traidcraft - ?

Threshers - Any liquor store!

Med Kitchen - Kohls?

Paperchase - Don't know... Maybe Hallmark?

Yo! Sushi - ?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

wow, so interesting! thanks for all replies thus far; keep 'em coming

never thought Walmart would be put as an equivalent to Waitrose! I always see Waitrose as really posh, and Walmart as really scummy

mind you, I've never been inside one, and am not likely to, as my fiance boycotts them

and a couple of people have put Next as Gap, but here we have both... I always see Gap as more for jeans and casual stuff, and Next one more rung up - some casual gear, but some more office type stuff (I got my favourite skirt there )

and they have homewares... niiiiice

so is Gap different in the US?

[Toshtishtash 1]

Well, I know we have both Next and Gap in England, but Gap is really the only thing I can think of that would be the same... Or maybe Bebe?

Walmart isn't scummy really, lol... But then again, it depends where you go I s'pose!

[*julez* 124]

Maybe Next is like Loft? I Loft.

[no name 1]

I'd say Target is kinda equivalent to Primark for the clothes though probably better.

Grocery stores are very regional, so it would be hard to say. Where I live, Bristol Farms is close to Waitrose and Ralph's is equivalent to Tescos.

There is no Wagamama or Yo sushi equivalent, though where I live not an issue since there are so many good and cheap Japanese places.

Threshers - no real equivalent since all liquor stores seem to be mom and pop type places

Paperchase - most Borders have a paperchase in them

Bodyshop - we have body shop where I live, maybe the Bath and Body works is an equivalent. But who cares about that when you have SEPHORA!

Next-Gap

Monsoon-Ann Taylor

Jessops-can't think of an equivalent, most camera shops are mom and pop where I live

I agree.

Waitrose could be a Whole Foods/Fresh N Wild or other fancy grocery store.

And ASDA is Walmart here.

I find Next = Gap not true though. But I never really liked Next, it seemed cheap to me. We do have a cheaper version of Gap - Old Navy - which is likely the closest to a Primark that you'll get.

Walmart isn't scummy really, lol... But then again, it depends where you go I s'pose!

Oh, yes it is! It's definitely cheap clothes that fall apart & probably sweatshop clothes.

Edited March 25, 2008 by illumine

[no name 1]

English Pubs (general) -

DFS -

DFS scares me! There si nothing like it here. Maybe Walmart?

There are plenty of 'fake' Irish pubs, some good, most not. Fewer English pubs.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I see Next and Gap as both selling decent quality sensible clothes at a moderate price that won't be completely out of fashion in 2 years. Next probably has more "dressy" options, maybe it's equivalent is the Banana Republic

[Jeraly 4]

Yeah - the English pub thing is going to be missed - the sort of country pub where you can get nice home cooked meals

Stater Brothers is kinda like Waitrose a bit at least imho

What about Sears/Macy's for Debenhams?

Oh and if you are lucky you might live near a LUSH! Which again imho is far superior to the Body Shop They have one in Honolulu and one in Waikiki and I went to both (and spent far too much money!!). They also have one in LA and I e-mailed them to suggest one in Palm Springs (which is closer and nicer than LA )

[no name 1]

Maybe Next = Limited or Express?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I like Lush - we have them in Aus, and I THINK I've seen some here (or something remarkably like), but they're a bit overpowering; just walking by the door can bowl me over with all the perfumes gusting out