A HUGE fashion retailer will be taking over a former John Lewis store offering “something for everyone.”
The Frasers Group has confirmed it will be opening another “new concept” store amidst a wave of store closures.
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The Frasers Group has announced it will be taking over the former John Lewis site at Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough.
The company, owned by Mike Ashley, plans to open its new concept store by the end of 2025.
The concept store will hold a Sports Direct store, beauty halls as well as products from USC, Jack Wills and GAME.
A spokesperson for Frasers Group commented: “We are pleased to confirm that we will be opening a new Frasers concept store in Peterborough’s Queensgate Shopping Centre, bringing customers the world’s most aspirational brands, as well as a dynamic beauty hall.
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“A 30,000 sq. ft Sports Direct store will also open, featuring a USC, Jack Wills and GAME.
“We are big believers in physical retail and these openings mark an exciting time for the Group as we continue to expand our store portfolio across the UK and Europe.”
In 2021 John Lewis announced it would be closing its flagship which was located in the same shopping centre.
The John Lewis store first opened in 1982 and was open for almost 40 years.
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Marks and Spencer has confirmed it will be closing its store in the same shopping centre just last week.
The store has three floors including a food hall and an M&S cafe. Shoppers could also find a variety of different clothes and a Bureau de Change.
The store is due to be closed in April but a final date will be determined after a consultation.
The Frasers group officially opened another concept store in September last year.
The department store opened in Norwich and the group confirmed it also opened sites in Blackpool.
Another site in Sheffield is due to open this year with the retailer taking on a former Debehmans space.
Meanwhile, the Frasers Group has been shutting down several stores.
A string of GAME stores are earmarked for closure this year, leaving shoppers “genuinely devastated”.
The video game retailer, which runs around 240 branches in the UK confirmed plans to four sites.
Jack Wills has quickly been disappearing from the high street.
The retailer announced as many as 14 store closures in just a few days in 2020.
The brand quickly lost its appeal in the years that followed as sixth-formers and university students turned to grungier styles.
Billionaire Mike Ashley put in a £12.75million bid for the ailing business in 2019, which at the time had 110 stores across the UK and Ireland.
Why are retailers closing branches?
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Troubled fashion brand Superdry has said it is looking at various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring which could include store closures and job cuts.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Banks have also announced multiple branch closures.
Barclays is to start pulling the shutters down on 14 sites in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland as soon as April.
Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
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