‘Huge loss’ cry shoppers as high street retailer with 240 shops to close ‘adored’ site in weeks

SHOPPERS have been left devastated after learning that a high street chain with 240 branches it to close another store.

Game will close its store in Saint Marks Place, Newark, next month.

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The store will cease trading for good on Sunday, April 7.

Megan Sheldon, the assistant manager at the Newark store, told the Newark Advertiser: “I know a lot of people in Newark who love this store, and we absolutely adore it as well.

“It is a huge loss to Newark and hopefully something happens in the future and we can get another Game back here.

“It is definitely a massive loss to Newark. It is such a big community and we have a lot of regulars that come in and love this store as much as we do.”

The store manager, Samantha Woods said that the shop is closing down following a higher decision, which can’t be disclosed.

In light of the news, the store has launched a closing down sale, with most products around the store now marked down by 20%.

Frasers Group, owner of the Game brand, has been contacted for comment.

Shoppers have reacted with devastation to the news on social media.

One person said on Facebook: “Hi, my son went in yesterday and it closing down in a month. Shame to see it go.”

“Such a huge loss,” said another shopper.

A third said: “It was always going to the moment they announced they wasn’t going to do trade-ins

“Sadly, game stores will close down because they focused too much on new and not pre-owned.”

Game has closed several branches in recent months, including those in Wales and Oxfordshire.

Meanwhile, two were closed last year in Plymouth and Cambridge.

Below is a full list of Game stores that have closed in recent months:

• Nuneaton, Warwickshire – November 10, 2023
• Newport, Wales – October 18, 2023
• Exeter, Devon, Guildhall shopping centre – January (relocated to Sports Direct on Rydon Lane)
• Witney, Oxfordshire – January 7
• Rugby, Warwickshire – January 7
• Huntington, Cambridgeshire – January 14
• Rhyl, Wales – February 4
• Plymouth, Devon – February 6
• Newton Abbot, Devon – March 17
• Grimsby, Lincolnshire – March 17

Game will also close its store in Union Square Shopping Centre in Torquay, Devon.

The retailer was bought by billionaire businessman Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group in 2019 as part of a £52million deal.

But by January 2020 it had announced plans to close 40 of its more than 300 stores across the UK.

As of today, there are over 240 Game stores nationwide.

House of Fraser, which is also owned by the Frasers Group, has also shutters several of its shops.

The once-iconic department store was saved from collapse by 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.

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

What else is happening to Frasers Group chains?

It’s not just House of Fraser and Game 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.

Frasers Group took on Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern as part of a £47.5million deal in December 2022.

But the retail group has called in administrators for both Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern just 16 months later.

It also put  luxury brand Matchesfashion into administration earlier this month.

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.

Retailers closing stores in 2024

RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

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

Here’s a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:

• Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
• B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
• Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
• Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
• Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
• Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
• Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
• M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
• Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
• WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.

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.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk