A WHSmith store in Lancashire is set to pull down the shutters for good on Saturday, amid slew of closures by high street chains.
The retailer’s branch in Accrington, Lancashire will close on March 15, after the company confirmed that the lease is expiring, The Sun reports.
The stationary chain confirmed the closure of the store, located in the town’s Arndale Centre, last month.
A spokesperson said at the time: “It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store as a result of the forthcoming lease expiry.
“We are disappointed to be losing our presence in Accrington and we would like to thank all our customers for their support and for shopping with us,” they added.
“We are also extremely grateful for the commitment of our in-store colleges who we will support with this transition and redeploy to nearby stores, where possible.”
The latest closure comes after four stores shut in February, with further closures set to take place this year including its branches in:
- Halstead, Essex – April
- Halesowen, West Midlands – April
- Diss, Norfolk – April
- Newport, Wales – April
- Haverhill, Suffolk – April 26
- Woolwich, London – April
- Stockton, County Durham – May
- Oldham, Greater Manchester – May
- Orpington, Greater London – TBC
Meanwhile, the retailer is reportedly in talks to sell its struggling high street division to concentrate on its rapidly expanding travel arm, The Times reported in January.
WHSmith is thought to be focusing on expanding its presence in travel hubs like airports, railway stations, and hospitals, where it has seen stronger revenue growth.
Its high street division reported falling sales in its UK stores in the 21 weeks to 25 January, though revenues at its travel arm rose 7%, as per The Guardian.
It comes as various high street chains have struggled due to various factors, including the rise in online shopping.