‘Shame’ say shoppers as home essentials chain with 80 branches confirms ‘friendly’ store closure

A POPULAR home essentials chain has closed one of its branches for good leaving shoppers disappointed. 

Yankee Candle has permanently closed a store in Portsmouth on Monday, April 1. 

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The store is located in Gunwharf Quays announced the closure back in February after it launched a closing-down sale. 

Signs put up in the store in February read: “Store closing down. Everything must go!”

It originally opened in 2018 and was popular with local students. 

Locals took to Google to share their disappointment at hearing the news. 

One user shopper said: “Shame it’s closing down. But managed to get some bargains.”

Another said: “Love this shop really sad to see it’s closing.”

“Lovely shop with friendly staff,” said someone else. 

A fourth user described it as a: “Pleasant store with good prices of long-lasting strong smelling candles and accoutrements.”

The Sun has approached Yankee Candle for comment and will update here when we know more.

The outlet in Portsmouth is not the only branch the retailer has closed in recent weeks.

Yankee Candle closed its brand in The Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell, Berkshire.

The shop had only opened just a few weeks before as a temporary Christmas pop-up over the festive period.

It closed for the final time on January 19 after launching a huge 50% off sale.

What is happening to the high street?

The high street has been hit hard in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail.

High energy costs and business rates have further piled pressure on businesses.

This has left some remaining retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

A number of major brands have crashed into administration since the start of 2023, including Wilko and Paperchase.

This year, The Body Shop fell into administration and it has seen dozens of branches close, 82 will have shut in total by the end of April.

Administrators for Ted Baker have confirmed 15 sites across England will close permanently in a blow to the high street.

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.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk