MARKS and Spencer has confirmed the date that it will shut one of its city centre stores for good – and shoppers are devastated.
It follows a string of closures for the retailer that has more than 400 branches across the UK.
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M&S announced earlier in the year that it would be shutting its Sunderland store, but did not confirm a date for the closure.
However, according to local news outlet Chronicle Live, the store on High Street West will close later this month.
The Sunderland branch will close its doors for the final time on Saturday, May 25, much to the disappointment of locals.
Many shoppers have taken to Facebook to voice their anger over the loss of what appears to be a much-loved store.
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One person said: “This is absolutely devastating news.”
Another added: “Unbelievable. M&S have abandoned their loyal customers in Sunderland disgraceful!”
While a third commented: “What a joke our town is.”
Some shoppers were struggling to understand the reason for closing the store.
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One person added: “The food hall is always busy.”
Another agreed and said: “I go twice a week and it is always busy.”
All the chains we’ve loved and lost in recent years
However, all is not lost for locals as some new store openings have been announced, including one in Washington, which is said to be opening on May, 30.
Marks and Spencer first announced plans to close some of its “lower productivity” stores in 2022 as part of a five-year plan to shake up its branch portfolio.
The retailer which runs 405 stores across the country, shut down locations in Manchester, Swindon and Birmingham between August and November last year.
In addition to this, 40 M&S clothing stores closed between November 2016 and July 2023.
Just recently it announced the closure of its Walworth store in South London, and its home store in Kingditch Trading Estate in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham.
If you want to know if your local might be next, we have the full list of M&S stores that are marked for closure in 2024.
However, it is not all bad news for the retailer, or shoppers as in January 2023, it announced it would open 20 more stores over the financial year.
At the same time, it said it’s opening 104 new “bigger and fresher” food stores.
In the last 12 months, it has opened 22 sites including in Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.
Marks and Spencer is not the only retailer shaking things up in a bid to survive the ongoing difficult retail climate.
What other stores are closing in May?
Nine retailers are closing stores between them next month in an ongoing blow for shoppers.
The high street has taken a battering in recent years as consumers have been increasingly turning to online retail.
Not only that, the rising cost of living and increased rents is making it impossible for some retailers to maintain a presence on our high street.
A number of chains are closing on the high street over the next few weeks.
From Next to Poundland, WHSmith and Poundstretcher, we have the full list of all the stores pulling the shutters down for good in May.
What about openings?
It is not all doom and gloom on the high street and some retailers are bucking the trend.
Asda is massively expanding its portfolio of smaller Express stores, with plans to open 110 new sites.
Meanwhile, Primark recently confirmed plans to open new branches and invest and renovate more than a dozen of its existing shops.
Discounter chain B&M also said it had plans to open 17 new sites in 2024 with some set to open imminently.
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Earlier this year WHSmith also confirmed it would be opening up 15 new shops, but they would not be on the high street.
We have the full list of chains opening stores in 2024 – see if one is coming to a high street near you.
Why are retailers closing stores?
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 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 coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
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