MARKS and Spencer is set to close another store permanently this month leaving fans furious.
The store in Swindon was marked for closure in August and now the date it will shut for good has been confirmed.
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According to The Swindon Advertiser, a large sign has appeared on the front of the store stating that it will close for the final time on October 28.
Customers are furious at the closure and concerned for the future of their town centre.
Taking to social media to vent one person said: “So sad. M&S is a national institution and a massive loss to our town.
And another commented: “Nothing left in this town they should shut all the town centre for good Swindon town centre is a joke”.
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While a third added: “They need to do something fast. There is no point going into town anymore”.
One person said that they think the town centre is “truly dead and buried and will only get worse.”
And another described the closure as “another nail in the coffin for the town”.
Local Cllr Jim Robbins tweeted about the closure, he said: “Really disappointing to hear that Marks & Spencer will be going ahead with their Swindon Town Centre store closure at the end of the month.
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“We are determined to get Swindon town centre into a place where Marks and Spencer want to return.”
The Sun has contacted Marks and Spencer for comment.
It comes after the retailer revealed it had plans to pull the shutters down on ten stores and relocate to new sites this year.
The high-street-brand is looking to shut some of its “lower productivity, full-line stores” to cut down on costs.
It isn’t all bad news for M&S fans as the retailer is opening a number of new stores that will all contain clothing, homeware, cafes and food halls.
For example, shoppers disappointed about the loss of the store in Manchester city centre will be getting a brand new store in the Trafford Centre store just in time for Christmas.
The Eagles Meadow Foodhall in Wrexham will also close in close in Autumn but is set to be relocated to Plas Coch Retail Park.
Flagship stores have been opening up in several major UK cities this year and there are more openings to come.
You can see the full list here:
- Purley Way – opened in April
- Leeds White Rose – opened in May
- Stockport – opened in June
- Liverpool ONE – opened on August 15
- Birmingham Bullring – Autumn 2023
- Barnsley – expected Autumn 2023
- Earlsfield – Autumn 2023
- Lakeside Thurrock – Winter 2023
- Manchester Trafford Centre – Winter 2023
- Largs – expected Winter 2023
The full list of M&S closures this year is below:
- East Kilbride – closed in February
- Fenchurch Street, London – March
- Meadowbank Retail Park in Edinburgh – April
- Castleford – April
- Bolton – April
- Cardiff – April
- Manchester – August
- Swindon – October
The retailer has The retailer plans to operate 180 full-line and 400 food halls in the next five years.
Other store closures
The rising cost of living means shoppers are thinking carefully before parting with their hard-earned cash.
With most retailers now having an online presence it is even easier for people to get what they want without having to leave the house.
This saves on increased town centre parking charges and also takes away the temptation to spend more money by stopping for lunch or a coffee.
But it is not helping the high street retailers, who despite their best efforts cannot get consumers through their doors.
Many big names are finding it impossible to keep their heads above water and are disappearing from our high streets forever.
Wilko collapsed into administration in August after failing to find a buyer for the business and the last of its stores closed just last week.
Meanwhile, Boots has announced plans to close 300 shops across the country.
Several chains including M&Co and Paperchase are also set to close this year.
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It is not only retailers that are being affected, major banks are also shutting up shop on the high street.
We have the full list of banks closing down for good in October.
