Discount high street chain closure leaves locals devastated
The Original Factory Shop has announced the closure of one of its 187 UK branches.
Renowned for its discount prices, the department store chain was established in 1969 and sells everything from fashion and footwear to home and garden products.
But now locals in Deal, Kent will bid farewell to the high street retailer which will vacate its town centre location in a matter of weeks.
The discounter announced its departure on a Facebook page with a statement that read: “We are sorry to let you know our store will close its doors on September 28, 2024.
“We take this opportunity to thank all of the local community and our store colleagues for their support throughout our time here in Deal.”
Local shoppers have shared their devastation over the news which has been described as yet another nail in the coffin for the seaside town.
Speaking of other local closures, one Facebook user who lives in Deal wrote: “Swanstitch has already gone, The Original Factory Shop, one of my favourites in Deal High Street, closes on September 28. The two halls behind Frog and Scot are also part of the closure plans. Devastating for the High Street.”
A second resident proclaimed: “It’s just becoming a tourist town now…there’ll be nothing normal left for the permanent residents soon… this is incredibly sad…”
Several people reminisced on past shops that lined town centre streets, writing: “It’s so so sad to see all our lovely shops disappearing from our great high street, one of my reasons for moving to Deal was the lovely shops in the High Street, I was so upset to see M&S go, Then M&Co, & Rooks shut down, now they are closing most of our lovely shops, we have more cafes and eateries now than ever before.”
It’s not just shoppers in Deal that have bid farewell to their local TOFS branch. The brand has shut down more than a dozen sites already in recent months, including:
- Brightlingsea, Essex
- Bodmin, Cornwall
- Chepstow, Wales
- Fakenham, Norfolk
- Harwich, Essex
- Mildenhall, Suffolk
- Padiham, Lancashire
- Taunton, Somerset
It’s not all bad news, however, as The Original Factory Shop has been opening stores across the UK too – to the sum of 16 since August 2023.
A spokesperson for the budget retailer commented: “After the landlord informed us that they were redeveloping our Deal store, we were unable to renew the lease. We want to remain in town and our property team would consider any alternative suitable sites.
“We are working hard to support all of those colleagues that will be affected and seeking to redeploy them across our business.”
The closure of the Deal branch will leave three Original Factory Shops in the region; Tenterden, Biggin Hill and Headcorn.
