A BARGAIN shop loved for cheap school shoes has launched a closing-down sale as more branches shut.
In May Shoe Zone announced it was closing the doors on more than a dozen stores.
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And now it’s closing its Weymouth branch – but it’s not all bad news.
The much-loved shoe seller is moving into a new, larger spot, which used to house McDonald’s.
In preparation for the big move, the store is hosting a massive closing-down sale.
Shoe Zone told the DorsetEcho: “Our Weymouth store is moving to bigger premises, and will open with a number of changes to bring it in line with our new format stores, one of which includes a wider variety of stock for customers, including big-name brands.
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“We will be (announcing) more information in the coming months.”
And the news was welcomed by the business community.
Paul Appleby, President of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: “I think that’s really good news.
“Shoe Zone is a large UK-wide retailer and they’ve obviously identified that Weymouth town centre is a great place to open a shop and will serve locals and tourists alike.
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“With a high footfall premises next door (Shoe Zone) I would think the unit next door would be taken quickly.”
In recent months the bargain shoe giant announced a string of closures.
The popular retailer, which has more than 300 stores, revealed it planned to close branches in Crewe, Hinckey, Beccles and Isle of Wight later this year.
It had already shut two branches, including stores in Waterlooville and Southend.
It closed 63 stores in the year to October 1, 2022, opened 13 and converted 11 existing stores into its new formats.
In 2020, it closed 20 sites and cut jobs after facing losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes as a number of other giant chain stores revealed they’d be shutting up shop.
Wilko fell into administration on August 10 putting its more than 400 stores and 12,500 staff members in peril.
But a number of rivals have bought dozens of the retailer’s sites since, including Poundland.
