Several beloved high street brands have closed popular branches for good in the last 24 hours, with more to follow.
This follows a trend of ongoing store closures from popular brands such as Boots, The Body Shop, Ted Baker, and House of Fraser, all of which have had to scale back their high street presence.
Some, like Wilko, have even completely abandoned shopping centres and high streets, only to make a surprising comeback shortly after. In the latest round of closures, Marks and Spencer joins Tesco, Starbucks and Wickes in saying goodbye to their physical locations.
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This large-scale retail restructuring is a reality for many favourite brands, including Marks and Spencer, as they strive to adapt to evolving consumer habits.
Tesco
This week sees the closure of several stores, starting with supermarket behemoth Tesco which close it’s Chippenham branch on August 15, inside the Emery Gate Shopping Centre.
The central location of this superstore made it an easy choice for locals without cars to do their weekly shop. However, these shoppers will now have to adjust to a new Tesco Express store opening nearby, reports the Express.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer will close its store in Redhill, Surrey, at the Belfry Shopping Centre, today (Saturday, August 17). This closure is part of the brand’s major reshuffle of its UK sites announced back in October 2022.
(Image: PA)
Andy Nash, manager at the Belfry Shopping Centre, expressed his sadness over the loss of the “much loved” site that has been a part of the centre for 33 years. He said: “We wish all of the M&S staff well and thank them for being part of the Belfry’s history.”
Starbucks
The Starbucks located in Market Square, Woolgate Shopping Centre, Witney, ceased operations on Friday (August 16).
Customers have praised the “extremely nice staff” at the Witney store, with many self-proclaimed “regulars” sharing their positive experiences in Google reviews.
(Image: Getty Images)
There has been local speculation that Starbucks might move into the vacant spot previously occupied by Costa Coffee on Welch Way. However, the company has confirmed there are no plans to open a new store there.
Wickes
The DIY behemoth Wickes is set to shutter its 30 year old store on Moore Street, Sheffield this weekend. The property-focused chain’s loyal customers will witnessed the branch closing its doors for good yesterday.
Despite following a recent closure in Bristol, it’s not believed to be part of a larger scale shutdown.
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