'Shopped here for years' say fans after shoe chain leaves the shopping centre
A shoe chain with “great prices” has left a busy shopping center, shocking fans.
Aldo closed another of its popular British stores on Saturday February 10.
The store, located in The Glades shopping center in Bromley, served its end customers last weekend.
Regular customers who visited the store to purchase the brand's shoes and accessories left with good reviews.
Customers describe the store's staff and prices as “great.”
It means Aldo now operates just four stores in Britain.
These are located in:
- Oxford Street, London
- Westfield Stratford City, London
- Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherd's Bush, London
- Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent
The Sun has reached out to Aldo for comment.
Aldo fell under the government on June 1, 2020.
Canadian parent company Aldo Group has appointed administrators at insolvency specialist RSM.
At the time, the footwear retailer said it was “necessary” to place the UK arm of its business into administration due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move resulted in the permanent closure of five Aldo stores.
The shoe and accessories chain was taken over by Bushell Investment Group last year after it came into receivership.
Eight stores remained open, but their long-term future was also at risk.
The acquisition by the investment company saved 150 jobs in 2021 and created 50 new positions for the sector.
In 2021, Lee Bushell, CEO of Bushell Investment Group, said: “We acquired Aldo UK during the pandemic, which forced several store closures and caused problems in the UK footwear market.
“Our initial focus was to rebuild Aldo UK's brand reputation and build a stable e-commerce platform.
“It's incredible to be able to celebrate a one-year milestone by announcing the return of Aldo UK to Oxford Street.
“With many challenges in the retail market, it is a fantastic achievement for the team to continue to grow.”
As of February 2024, Aldo operates just four UK stores.
Aldo's first UK store opened in 2002.
The retailer is active in more than 100 countries and employs more than 16,000 people worldwide.
The company was founded in 1972 by Aldo Bensadoun in Montreal, Quebec.
The Group owns stores in Canada, the US, Great Britain and Ireland, and all other international stores are franchised.
More main street closures
Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to the rising cost of living.
High energy costs and the move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many high street stores struggling to continue.
The high street has seen a slew of closures in the past year and more are in the pipeline.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Just this week, The Body Shop confirmed it has gone bankrupt, leaving 200 stores at risk of closure.
The Sun has compiled a full list of The Body Shop stores in Britain at risk of being lost forever.
But there is a glimmer of hope now that official figures show stores have bounced back from a record poor performance in December.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said retail sales, including online retailers, rose 3.4% in January, compared to a fall of 3.3% in December.
It was the fastest increase since April 2021, the month when non-essential retailers were allowed to reopen after the third national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several major chains are pulling down the shutters for the last time this month.
WHSmith in Oban, Scotland, will close permanently on February 17.
Boots has revealed it will close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.