A SHOE shop chain with more than 300 branches is set to close another high street store.
Shoezone will be pulling the shutters down on another site amid a string of closures over the past few months.
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The branch in Church Street, Cromer in Norfolk will close its doors for the final time in December but no exact date has been given yet, according to staff.
It comes after Shoezone shoppers spotted closing down signs in the shop’s window.
Locals have reacted to the news on social media, with some disappointed customers describing the store as a saving grace.
One said: “Such a shame!! Saved my day a few times, when we’ve had broken school shoes! Only local shop left near us that sells them.”
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Another reacted: “What a shame. We have already lost the one that was in Sheringham. Now Cromer as well.”
A third commented: “Not another one! But you cannot blame them when the costs for keeping a high street shop open when they can sell on-line!”
And another wrote: “Yet another shop closing in Cromer!”
While a fifth said: “Omg so sad there will be nothing left soon only gift shops, Cromer isn’t about just tourists.”
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The Sun has contacted Shoezone for comment and will update this story when we hear back.
The news comes amid a string of Shoezone closures which have been announced in the past few months.
The retailer is set to close its branch in Westgate Street, Ipswich, and launching a sale.
But it’s not all bad news, because the store is set to relocate to a new site in Tavern Street.
The chain is also set to close its branches in Newton Abbot and Watford, although no exact dates have been confirmed.
Its Newport store in the Isle of Wight shut for good in September, while another site in the area opened in August.
It’s also set to shut branches in Crewe, Hinckley, and Beccles before the end of the year.
Shoezone pulled the shutters down on two branches in May as well, including stores in Waterlooville and Southend.
But shoppers in Southend won’t be without a Shoezone for long, as it is set to relocate to another unit on the High Street later that same month.
The high street chain has already closed 11 branches this year in the following locations:
- London Road, Waterlooville, Portsmouth
- High Street, Southend (Relocation)
- The Drapery, Northampton (Relocation)
- Bell Centre, Melton, Leicestershire
- Broad Street, Seaford, East Sussex
- Well Croft, Shipley
- Longton Exchange Shopping Centre, Stoke-on-Trent
- Dockhead Street, Saltcoats
- Broadmead Shopping Centre, Bristol
- Grand Junction Retail Park, Crewe
- Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Edinburgh
It comes as the retailer looks to open new “big box and hybrid” format stores from its original, smaller formats.
These stores will offer more stock and a greater range of styles, according to the retailer.
In its annual results, Shoezone said it was hoping to expand its store refit and relocation programme this year.
Shoezone closed 63 stores in the year to October 1, 2022, opened 13 and converted 11 existing stores into its new formats.
In 2020, it closed 20 sites and cut jobs after facing losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
But Shoezone isn’t the only shoe retailer that is closing branches this year.
Clarks has confirmed that several stores will close forever in 2023.
The Clarks shop in Dundee’s Murraygate previously shut in July.
This was followed by the branch in Fareham shopping centre on August 5.
The chain also shut the doors for the final time at its High Street Inverness site in September.
Clarks is closing its doors to customers at its Grimsby store at the end of October.
Other familiar high street brands will also be shutting up shop in several branches before the end of the year.
DIY chain Homebase is closing two stores in November and a third in December.
B&M, Byron Burger, Cineworld, Farmfoods, M&S, Sports Direct and WHSmith are also closing a handful of sites before the end of the year.
The cost of living crisis, stubbornly high inflation and energy costs are taking their toll on retailers.
Shoppers have been cutting back spending meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.
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Meanwhile, here is the full list of retailers closing locations in October including Iceland and Wetherspoons.
Plus, here are all the 22 shops and chains closing doors before the end of the year after ‘apocalyptic’ era for high street.
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