SHOPPERS claim their town has hit “rock-bottom” as a major discounter with dozens of branches gears up to close one of its sites.
The chain, owned by Poundstretcher, is pulling down the shutters on the store in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, imminently.
Local news reports staff have already put up signs advertising 20% off all stock.
But it’s not all bad news for the Bargain Buys branch as it is just closing for refurbishment, a member of staff told The Sun.
Bargain Buys, which was established in 2018 and currently runs 82 stores across the UK, declined to comment when asked what date the branch is closing.
The store is hugely popular with locals, with one describing it online as “awesome”.
Others have credited its “great prices and great products” including on toiletries, cleaning items and homeware brands.
The news it will be closing temporarily has been met with shock by residents.
One said: “Trowbridge town centre has now reached rock-bottom, they may as well pull the plug on it now.
Meanwhile, a second added: “They can’t close down!
“They will miss the hundreds if not thousands of potential customers that will be using the new pedestrian paths the council are currently installing at great cost…Oh dear how sad.”
The Bargain Buys branch in Trowbridge is not the first from the chain to announce it will close its doors.
The shop in Northfield Retail Park, Kettering, will pull down its shutters in early 2024 and be replaced with a 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 spokesperson for the chain added it was “excited” to be opening another branch in the town.
Meanwhile, a number of other discount brands have closed stores in recent months.
B&M has closed 10 stores since February last year, including in Bristol, Bolton and Newport, Wales.
Meanwhile, Quality Save, owned by TJ Morris, pulled down the shutters of its Chorley store in October.
Poundstretcher also closed 13 branches in 2023, including in Romford, Grantham and Grimsby.
It comes as the high street takes a hit as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail and away from physical branches.
High energy and wage costs have seen businesses struggling too, while shoppers budgets have been squeezed due to high inflation.
It has seen notable brands such as Wilko and Paperchase fall into administration in 2023.
Meanwhile, pharmacy giant Boots said in June last year it would be consolidating its portfolio of stores from 2,200 in 1,900.
That said, some retailers, including B&M and Poundland, have been looking to expand portfolios.
B&M, which currently runs over 650 UK stores, recently announced plans to open 17 more across January and February.
Asda also plans to open 21 new locations before the end of the month as well.
The retailer said it wants to have 1,000 stores running across the UK and Northern Ireland by March this year.
The chain said it would see its estate the largest it has been in its history.
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