‘Final nail in the coffin’ sob shoppers as legendary department store with 28 branches to shut shop following huge sale

A BIG high street retailer with 28 stores is shutting another branch for good.

House of Fraser is pulling down the shutters on another shop after closing various sites over the past few months.

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The legendary department store chain is said to be closing its shop in Carlisle city centre by the end of May.

It comes after signs advertising a huge 20% off closing down sale across the entire shop were spotted in store windows.

House of Fraser sells big brands like Calvin Klein, Superdry, Paul Smith and Ted Baker, so it might be worth heading down before Monday to grab some bargains.

Shoppers have reacted to the news on social media.

One said: “Childhood memories of visiting Santa and visiting the restaurant.”

Another commented: “Aww that’s very sad to hear many happy memories in this place, especially in the Cafe and the lifts.”

A third wrote: “Gutted. Fraser’s is great for fellas.”

A fourth posted: “Gutted. Fraser’s is great for fellas.”

While a fifth said: “It’s such a shame but I suspect the beauty concessions have been keeping House of Fraser going for a long time.”

And a sixth commented: “Final nail in the coffin!!!”

“Another one bites the dust,” another disappointed shopper said.

The Sun has contacted Frasers Group for comment on this closure and will update this story when we hear back.

House of Fraser was saved from collapse by billionaire businessman Mike Ashley back in 2018.

But while the deal saved the chain’s 59 stores and 17,000 workers who were facing the axe many more stores have closed in recent years and only 28 department stores remain.

Over the past few months, the chain has shuttered several of the once-iconic department stores.

A string of shops shut in 2023, including in Birmingham, Cardiff and Guildford.

Shoppers were rushing to closing down sales as the branches prepared to shut for good.

Last autumn, Frasers Group chief executive, Michael Murray, described House of Fraser as a “broken business” and said it is likely to “diminish”.

Mr Murray added that the group’s strategy was to break away from the traditional operating model of operating department stores.

He told The Telegraph: “We’ve completely changed the operating model.

“It was mostly concession, the stores were way too big, and they were under-invested.

“Our future vision is that House of Fraser will diminish and Frasers will grow.”

What else is happening to Frasers Group chains?

It’s not just House of Fraser shops shutting, other Frasers Group chains have been decreasing their store numbers too.

A Sports Direct branch in Stroud, Gloucestershire, will be pulling the shutters down for good at the end of March.

Sports Direct also shuttered its branch in the Central Six Retail Park, Coventry, at the end of January.

The Flannels site in Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton, pulled down its shutters for the final time in the new year.

It also shut its site in Bradford in January despite only opening back in October.

Designer clothing chain Choice has pulled the shutters down on one of its stores in Bromley.

It’s not all bad news though as the firm has opened several sites recently.

Frasers Group has already started opening “new concept” stores.

The concept stores hold various Frasers brands like Sports Direct, Flannels, and beauty halls as well as products from USC, Jack Wills and GAME.

In September, it cut the ribbon on the latest of its new department stores combining popular brands like Sports Direct and Game in Norwich.

There are plans to open two further sites in Blackpool and Sheffield.

The group also announced it will be taking over the former John Lewis site at Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough. 

It is set to open a new branch of sportswear shop in The Precinct in Coventry.

The firm has acquired Compton House on Liverpool’s famous Church Street and is set to open a flagship Sports Direct.

What else is happening on the high street?

Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic with shoppers cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

High energy costs and a move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year and more are on the way.

Several major brands have collapsed in 2023, including Wilko and Paperchase.

The Lidl news comes just weeks after The Body Shop tumbled into administration.

It then announced last week that it would be closing almost half of its 198 stores.

Seven branches shut with immediate effect including sites in Surrey Quays and Oxford Street, London.

In early February, Hobbycraft’s owner, Bridgepoint, was reported to be exploring “strategic options” for the business.

These options could include putting the retailer up for auction.

In January, struggling fashion brand Superdry said it was looking at various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring which could include store closures and job cuts.

It was working with advisers at PwC on a plan which could lead to a CVA or another form of restructuring.

Such a move could result in store closures and potentially force rent reductions with landlords.

Further store closures

Boots is set to shut another 10 shops in the coming weeks.

The move by health and beauty retailer Boots forms part of plans to close 300 sites.

Matalan closed down one of its branches in Leeds on February 24.

High street designer brand Kurt Geiger has pulled down the shutters on its shop in Brighton.

Department store Fenwick also shut its flagship London store in Bond Street on February 3.

High street fashion chain Peacocks closed one of its branches in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.

Peacocks is also pulling down the shutters on its store in Camborne, Cornwall, on April 3, with “a really heavy heart”.

Entertainment retailer HMV also shuttered its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire, on January 27.

And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito shut their doors.

Plus, a total of 56 bank branches are set to close their doors in March alone.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk