A cherished Welsh shoe retailer, A. G. Meek, is closing down its longstanding Albany Road store in Cardiff on June 14. The footwear specialist, established in 1912 by war hero Albert George Meek, cited difficult economic conditions for the move. The company is grappling with increased National Insurance Contributions, now at 15%, and a cut in business rate relief from 75% to 40%, forcing it to concentrate on its leading stores and online presence.
The Cardiff shutdown will leave A. G. Meek with only three stores in Wales. Locals are lamenting the loss, as the shop launched a closing-down sale, offering 50% off winter boots and 15% off everything else, reports the Daily Star. A. G. Meek joins a list of High Street retailers facing a grim summer, with numerous retail heavyweights announcing store closures.
Iconic department store Beales, established in 1881, is also shutting down its final Poole branch on May 14, with CEO Tony Brown criticising the tax and wage increases as “unviable.”
Birmingham bids farewell to the beloved The Meat Shack eatery on May 10 after an eight-year run, as the building is earmarked for demolition. Smiggle’s stationery store in Inverness will shut its doors on May 21, while Leeds’ Trade Me In store in St John’s Shopping Centre will disappear by May 31.
WHSmith is trimming down its presence too, with Oldham’s branch closed on May 3, Stockton bidding adieu on May 17, and Doncaster saying goodbye on May 31.
Poundland’s Liverpool Belle Vale branch is slated for closure on May 6, while Morrisons’ Haxby Daily store will close on May 14.