SHOPPERS have cried “why close it” after a major discounter with dozens of stores gears up to shut one of its branches.
Bargain Buys in Northfield Retail Park, Kettering, will pull down its shutters for the final time in early 2024.
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The unit will then be taken over by Pure Gym.
Pure Gym confirmed it was taking over the site from Bargain Buys, however it did not reveal the exact date it will open.
A Pure Gym spokesperson said: “PureGym is excited to be bringing affordable, flexible fitness to Kettering in early 2024.
They added: “This will be a fantastic facility for the people of Kettering and the surrounding areas, helping the local community to support their mental and physical wellbeing.”
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The new gym will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering a range of equipment and group classes.
Locals have been left devastated after finding out Bargains Buys will be closing its doors for good though, with one calling it an “excellent store” with “great variety and prices”.
Another said: “Bargain buys is a great shop why close it and put another gym in its place.”
Meanwhile, a third added: “Will miss the staff here, lovely friendly bunch.”
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It comes after a number of other discount chains have closed stores this year.
B&M has closed nine stores since February this year, including in Stockton, Bristol and Bolton.
Meanwhile, Quality Save, owned by TJ Morris, pulled down the shutters of its store in Chorley on October 6.
Staff were transferred to a Home Bargains branch at the nearby Alliance Retail Park.
Poundstretcher, which owns Bargain Buys, has closed 13 branches this year too, including in Romford, Grantham and Grimsby.
A number of other retailers on the high street are struggling too as the high street takes a hit.
Shoppers are increasingly turning to online retail and away from physical branches.
High inflation since last year has seen households’ budgets squeezed too.
In June, Boots Pharmacy announced plans to consolidate its portfolio of 2,200 to 1,900 in a blow for shoppers.
Meanwhile, Wilko and Paperchase both fell into administration this year.
But it’s not all bad news.
Paperchase has since returned to shops after opening concessions in 250 Tesco supermarkets.
Meanwhile, Wilko has relaunched online and some of its physical branches have reopened to the public.
And in September, B&M snapped up 51 former Wilko stores as part of expansion plans.
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Plus, in August, Greggs said it would open eight more branches over the following two months.
In February, Poundstretcher announced plans to open 50 new stores by the end of 2023.
