CUSTOMERS have shared their dismay after an iconic sandwich bar shut its doors for good.
Locals have branded the closure the “worst news ever” and “so incredibly sad”.
1
The Baguette Bar, near the centre of Swindon, welcomed in customers for the final time on Friday, March 1.
Shoppers have been left devastated after discovering the shop, known in particular for its “Workman’s Ham”, has permanently shut after opening 30 years ago.
One said: “This is the worst news ever, even more devastating than Take That splitting.
“My dad took me here as a child and I’ve taken my kids also. Such a shame.”
Read more in Store Closures
Another said: “Oh nooo my hometown fave so sad,” while a third added: “What the hell I go there at least twice a week never knew they were closing.”
Even a local estate agents has weighed in, posting on its Facebook page: “The go to place to celebrate a good week for over 20 years.
“We loved them so much, we even reduced our fee for selling the owners’ house a few doors along in 2018.”
It comes following a turbulent time for retailers in Swindon.
Most read in Money
Footwear chain Schuh pulled down the shutters on its branch in the town on January 13.
Shoppers were quick to brand the closure a sign the “town centre is dead”.
Shopping discounts – How to make savings and find the best bargains
Meanwhile, the Midcounties Co-operative shuttered one of its stores on February 3 and Sports Direct said it would close a branch early this year.
Boots in Swindon closed on February 9 too, according to local news reports, joining M&S which shut last October.
Why are retailers closing stores?
Retailers are feeling the pinch across the UK as households increasingly head online to do their shopping.
The working from home trend which kicked off during the pandemic has seen people spend less time on the high street too.
That, combined with high energy and wage costs and inflation in recent years, has seen a number of businesses forced to close.
Some major brands have gone into administration, including Wilko, Paperchase and most recently The Body Shop.
Meanwhile other retailers like Boots are consolidating their portfolios and focusing their attentions away from the high street.
But it’s not all bad news. Some retailers have been expanding their physical store presence across the UK.
B&M recently revealed the exact dates it will open 10 more branches across March and April.
It comes after the retailer opened 17 branches in January and February.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
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 UK Flooring Direct, 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.
Last year, around 14% of insolvencies were in retail businesses, according to official figures.
Asda is massively expanding its portfolio of smaller Express stores too.
In February, Primark confirmed plans to open new branches and invest in and renovate more than a dozen of its existing shops.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.
