SHOPPERS cried ‘goodbye city centre’ as another major high street chain announced the closure of a beloved branch.
Marks and Spencer sadly revealed their shop in Gallowtree Gate, Leicester city centre, will be pulling the shutters down for good.
The retail giant confirmed a “provisional closure date” has been set for Saturday, August 17.
It comes after a string of closures in the area, from Sainsbury’s to Wilko – as locals fear their high street will become a ghost town.
Burt McNeil, chairman of Leicester Civic Society wrote to M&S’s CEO and said: “The city centre’s vitality depends on a mix of retailers, and your store is a key component of that ecosystem.
“Leicester’s city centre and its residents depend on Marks & Spencer.”
He added how the branch was a “haven” for “vulnerable groups”, providing a social community hub as well as food essentials.
But Calum Telford, the regional manager for M&S, told LeicestershireLive: “After consulting with our colleagues, we have a provisional closure date of Saturday, August 17, for our Gallowtree Gate store.
“I want to thank all our customers who have shopped with us at the store over the years and we will be working hard to continue serving them at our stores across Leicestershire.
“Individual conversations are continuing with our colleagues and wherever possible, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.
“Shopping habits are changing and our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer a brilliant shopping experience.
“Sadly, that does mean taking the tough decision to close our Gallowtree Gate store.”
The regional manager highlighted the £20million poured into branches across the East Midlands since 2020.
He told how 1,700 people have been employed and their “biggest single renewal investment” can be seen at their Fosse Park store in Leicestershire.
However, residents were so desperate to save their popular branch they kickstarted a change.org petition.
Shoppers were devastated to hear the closure news.
One said: “Yet another nail in Leicesters coffin, soulsbys destruction of a once great city is nearing completion.
“No go area for all decent people now and will only get worse.”
“All we need now is for John Lewis to close its doors and there’s nothing left,” said someone else.
“Online shopping and working from home has side effects. Many old brands disappeared as well over the years. Woolworths, C&A, Littlewoods, BHS, Dixons, Comet, Mothercare, Debenhams, Rackhams, Top Shop, Building Societies and many Banks have reduced branches,” wrote a third.
“The High Street has changed.”
It comes after branches in Manchester and Swindon have all closed since August last year.
In total, the chain has said it wants to close 67 “lower productivity” sites between 2022 and 2027.
However, M&S has also announced the chain is opening new stores and freshening up a swathe of others in a boost for shoppers.
In a fresh update, the industry giant said it will pull up the shutters on two new branches and refresh 12 more across London as part of a £30million investment.
Total M&S sales rose by 9.3% to £13billion in the year to March – and pre-tax profits spiked by 41% to £672.5million.
Its shares have also climbed by 76% in the past year to 287.8p, with the company now valued at £5.6billion.
M&S has revealed details for seven of the stores set to open or earmarked for renovation.
Store openings
Renewals
The group’s bosses were asked whether they have “given up on the high street” at the AGM on Tuesday, amid concerns they are shifting increasingly towards retail parks.
Archie Norman, chairman of the business, said: “No, we haven’t given up on the high street.
“We have a very important store rotation programme but we are absolutely not trying to leave city centres – that has never been our intention.
“We do have some older stores that are hard and costly to maintain and run so we have to look at that.”
Stuart Machin, chief executive of M&S, said: “Our store rotation is really a catch-up programme on the last 20 years as we have previously underinvested.”
The retailer also confirmed that it is investing £17 million in a new store in the centre of Bath, and £21 million on a new flagship store in central Bristol.
It said these are expected to create around 150 jobs.
