A POPULAR home essentials chain is set to close one of its branches for good.
Yankee Candle has launched a closing-down sale at its retail outlet in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.
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The retailer most popular for its scented candles opened the outlet at Gunwharf Quays in 2018.
However, local news outlet The Portsmouth News has reported that “closing down signage” has appeared at the store.
A sign in the front of the shop window reads “store closing down” and advises customers that the shop will shut on Monday, April 1.
Disappointed locals have been reacting to news of the closure on social media.
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One person said: “Another shop closing so sad.”
Another commented: “OMG I need to go there before they close.”
While a third exclaimed: “This is extremely bad news.”
Other shoppers are looking forward to what cheap deals they might be able to pick up in the clearance sale.
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One person added: “We need to go and get some bargains.”
While another local devastated at the closure of the branch said: “That’s me not going to Gunwharf anymore.”
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.
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It also brought the shutters down on 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.
Despite only being open for a short time, many shoppers were still sad to see it go and took to social media to share their opinions.
One Facebook user said: “I actually thought this was a good shop to have all year round. Stop getting rid of shops!!”
Another customer wrote: “It’s a shame.”
A third added: “Our town will be empty soon. It’s such a shame for all the staff too.”
Our town will be empty soon
It comes as many retailers are struggling to survive on the high street with the rising cost of living.
Footfall in the town centres isn’t want it used to be with many people opting to stay at home and shop online instead.
This means that some retailers are finding that it is not worth having physical premises, especially if they already have an online presence.
The most recent casualty is the iconic health and beauty retailer The Body Shop which has recently fallen into administration.
Last week it confirmed it would be closing seven branches with immediate effect.
Administrators for the high street stalwart said that its current range of stores “is no longer viable” but the move to restructure will “secure the brand’s future”.
Other major brands such as Wilko and Paperchase collapsed last year with many more such as pharmacy chain Boots reducing the size of its store portfolio.
Also, troubled fashion brand Superdry has said it is looking at various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring which could include store closures and job cuts.
Even charity shops such as Oxfam are struggling as it confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
It is not only retailers leaving empty units across high streets up and down the country, major banks are shutting down locations as more people move to banking online.
A total of 189 bank branches are set to close their doors this year.
These include big-name lenders which are staples on the UK high street.
Barclays is shutting 34 branches while Lloyds is closing 60 and the Bank of Scotland (BoS) will be shuttering 16.
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Meanwhile, 47 Halifax branches will close and NatWest will shut 21.
We have the full list of bank branches closing in 2024, and advice on what you can do if your local is affected.
