Blow for UK town as its final department store closes for good after 100 years | UK | News
A UK town has lost its final department store in the latest blow for locals. The House of Fraser store served the community for over 100 years but shut its doors for the final time on Sunday (March 8).
The shop, which was the final department store in Darlington, County Durham, has struggled since the Covid-19 pandemic. A combination of increased costs and lower consumer spending led to administration fears and ultimately the closure of the shop. It was set to close in April but the date was brought forward suddenly after weeks of shoppers seeing the shelves go bare.
As reported by The Northern Echo, House of Fraser, which opened on High Row in 1922, launched a closing-down sale after announcing it would shut. Many shoppers have expressed their sadness at the move.
A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson said: “The news that House of Fraser is closing is disappointing, the store has been at the heart of our town centre for many years and will undoubtedly be a miss for Darlington shoppers. As we learn more about the details of the closure any relevant and appropriate support we are able to provide will be offered.”
Plans have been approved to divide the ground floor of the site into six individual shops. It is unclear when work on transforming the department store will begin.
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Shoppers swarmed the store on Sunday for last-minute deals before it closed for good. Kevin and Clare Howlett, from Darlington, said the closure is a shame for the town.
They said: “It’s sad to see it go. It’s my go-to place to buy my wife a posh bag.” The couple added: “The younger generation will miss out as it has been such a fantastic place for the town. It’s 100 years of history gone.”
Another local added: “It’s sad about it going. It’s criminal really. The area needs more shops and more variety. The only place you’ve got to buy high quality clothes is Next now.”
