Store closures have been a constant battle for high street shoppers with many retailers now opting to shut brick-and-mortar sites.
The pattern of Britons increasingly turning to online retail, a trend made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, is partly to blame, along with rising running costs.
Longstanding high-street names including Debenhams, Woolworths and Topshop have been in the “graveyard” of retailers for some time, and could soon be joined by more household names.
It’s not all terrible news, though as some companies are simply closing selected stores so that they can prioritise expansion elsewhere.
That said, it’s a busy week for store closures with at least four retailers planning to bid farewell to shops.
House of Fraser
The long-established department store chain made its debut in 1849 with its first store in Glasgow, Scotland.
First known as Arthur and Fraser, the retail giant has since become part of Frasers Group, which also owns the likes of Sports Direct and Game.
Shoppers have now been left heartbroken after learning House of Fraser will be closing a store this month in Cheltenham.
The department store at Cavendish House will be axed, along with the historic 201-year-old building it’s based in, on April 6.
One person was so devastated at the “dying” high street that they thought there would soon be “no point in visiting the town.”
Game
A Game store in Newark is also due to close early this month on April 7. The store has already launched a closing-down sale, with most of its stock now marked down by a generous 20 percent.
The retailer closed two stores last month, with the upcoming closure to mark the ninth of the year. The assistant manager of the Newark store said: “It is a huge loss to Newark and hopefully something happens in the future and we can get another Game back here.”
Homebase
Homebase fans in Brentford will lose their local branch later this month on April 13 after the retailer announced a closing-down sale.
Nearby in Osterly, shoppers will have to bid farewell to the Tesco store after the local council approved planning permission for two tower blocks to be built on the site. However, Tesco is planning on opening a replacement Tesco Extra store in Osterly, though a date is yet to be confirmed.
Booths
It’s not just Boots that’s shutting shops this month. The supermarket chain Booths is also closing a store in a matter of days.
The Hale Road branch in Altrincham will shut its doors for the last time on Sunday, April 7 after nine years in the local community. One shopper said: “So sad particularly for the staff who work there. Lovely store.”
Fortunately, shoppers in the area won’t be without a supermarket for too long as Asda is expected to take over the site just a few weeks later officially opening on Monday, April 29.
Costa Coffee
The string of closures will continue next week too, with a Costa site expected to shut down for good. Coffee lovers in Warrington will see the London Road branch in Stockton Heath pull down the shutters on April 11.
A spokesperson for the chain said: “We can confirm that our store on London Road in Stockton Heath will be closing its doors for trade on April 11, 2024.
“We are currently working closely with our talented team members to re-deploy them to other Costa Coffee stores where possible.”
