SHOPPERS have cried “retail is dying” after a supermarket chain with over 300 locations announced it is closing a store permanently.
The Midcounties Co-op store at the Templars Square Shopping Centre, near Oxford, is set to pull down its shutters next year.
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A spokesperson for the retailer confirmed the closure to The Sun but did not reveal the exact date it will shut.
Local residents have shared their devastation following the announcement.
One said: “Retail is dying. Soon have to buy online so sad. It’s a sign of the times what a shame.”
A second said: “Won’t be any shops left at this rate.”
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A third said: “This is awful news,” while a fourth added: “Can’t believe this, there is always a queue in there.”
The high street has been hit hard in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail and away from physical branches.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium reveal 6,000 retail outlets have closed their doors for good in the last five years.
The trade association said the closures are in part due to “crippling” business rates and the impact of Covid lockdowns.
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A number of well-known brands have been impacted this year, with Cath Kidston, Wilko and Paperchase all going into administration.
Other chains have survived but have still had to close branches, including Sainsbury’s and New Look.
A number of major shops and chains are closing dozens of branches between them before the end of November too.
Boots is closing five stores before the end of 2023 while Homebase and B&M are also pulling down the shutters on stores.
It’s not all bad news though.
Wilko will reappear on the high street before Christmas, with five branches set to open before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Paperchase has returned to shops after launching in 250 Tesco supermarkets.
Clarks has opened eight branches across the UK this year, including in Taunton, Reigate, Manchester and London.
Meanwhile, in July, B&M said it would open several new branches within weeks following a string of closures.
Poundland also has plans to open 75 new stores by Christmas, with many popping up in former Wilko sites.
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One Beyond, which currently has 107 branches, could take on up to 10 former Wilko sites too.
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