High street fashion retailer to shut store in DAYS – but fans say brand was ‘already dying’

A HIGH street fashion retailer is set to shut its store in days – but fans say the brand was “already dying”.

The beloved branch in Southampton is rolling the shutters down leaving customers devastated.

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Jack Wills owners have decided to shut the branch at Westquay Shopping Centre for good on January 6.

Shoppers spotted closing down signs in the store’s windows, with a sale of 20% off all items now in effect.

But dozens of customers have been left disappointed by the move.

Many took to social media to share their frustration, with one blasting “terrible”.

One customer said: “Jack wills was dying as a brand years ago. It’s fate was sealed once sports direct bought it.”

Another added: “It was disappointing once the sports direct company took them over. Such a shame.”

Jack Will was bought out by Mike Ashley‘s Sports Direct, part of the Frasers Group, in August 2019.

The billionaire put in a £12.75million bid for the ailing business, which at the time had 110 stores across the UK and Ireland.

It was founded in 1999 as a single shop in Devon and its clothes became popular in the mid-2000s.

But it lost its appeal in the years that followed as sixth-formers and university students turned to grungier styles.

In March 2020, it announced it would permanently close nine stores, just days after revealing five would shut.

Branches in Abersock, Aldeburgh, Dartmouth, St Ives and Rushden Lakes were all impacted.

Following the wave of closures, the fashion retailer in Worcester announced it was shutting down on the new year.

Bosses have put up closure signs on the front of the store in the high street centre.

Signs read: “Jack Wills – This store will be closing February 2024. Closing down 20 per off full price.”

The Sun has approached owners Frasers Group for comment.

It comes as a bargain shop “which rivals Poundstretcher” closed down another store “permanently” in a huge blow for deal-savvy shoppers.

The MaxiSaver discount store in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, has rolled the shutters down after putting up a warning notice.

Shoppers spotted the shutters pulled down for good at the former store on December 31.

The note said: “This store is now permanently closed. We would like to thank all our customers.”

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk