Argos UK store closures – which branches are closing and why?

ARGOS has closed dozens of stores over the past two years and has plans to close even more stores.

The high street retailer already closed 42 UK stores last June, including all 34 branches in the Republic of Ireland.

We explain how many Argos stores will close and where. Here's what we know.

How many Argos stores will close and why?

In July last year, Argos announced plans to close 100 UK branches over the following 12 months.

The closures are part of the retailer's plan to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its supermarket presence.

But despite announcing the branches would close, Sainsbury's-owned Argos did not reveal the names of all the locations it would close.

Which Argos stores will close?

The homewares retailer confirmed to The Sun last July that its standalone stores in Grimsby and Scunthorpe would close in August, but could not confirm the exact dates.

Argos had plans to open stores in nearby Sainsbury's stores in both Lincolnshire towns.

An Argos store in the St Stephen's shopping center in Hull closed in September, but it was believed a new concession would open in nearby Sainsbury's.

Anyway, here's the full list of independently owned Argos UK stores included in the list of 100 that have already closed:

• Hull
• Grantham
• Grimsby
• Norwich
• Scunthorpe
• Newport
• Cardiff Bay
• Stevenage

Which other stores have already closed?

Argos closed 45 branches in the 12 months to March last year, while opening 25 branches in Sainsbury's stores.

Included in that list, the retailer has closed stores in the following locations:

• Coventry
• Nottingham
• Lanarkshire
• Birkenhead

It also closed all 34 of its stores in the Republic of Ireland on June 24.

The full list of stores closed in Ireland is:

• Ashbourne Retail Park
• Athlone Argos
• Blanchardstown West End Argos
• Carlow Argos
• Castlebar Argos
• Cavan Argos
• Clonmel Argos
• Cork Mahon Argos
• Cork shopping park Argos
• Drogheda Argos
• Dun Laoghaire Argos
• Dundalk shopping park Argos
• Dundrum Argos
• Galway Argos
• Ilac Center (Dublin) Argos
• Kilkenny Argos
• Killarney Argos
• Letterkenny Argos
• Liffey Valley Argos
• Limerick Childers Road Argos
• Longford Argos
• Monaghan Argos
• Naas Argos
• Navan Argos
• Omnipark (Dublin) Argos
• Portlaoise Argos
• Rathfarnham nut grove Argos
• Sligo Argos 4146
• St Stephens Green (Dublin)
• Tallaght Argos
• Tralee Argos
• Tullamore Argos
• Waterford Argos
• Wexford – Argos

The company blamed the closure of its stores in the Republic of Ireland on the investment needed to develop and modernize the Irish part of its business as “not viable”.

By March 2024, Sainsbury's expects to have 160 standalone stores and between 430 and 460 Argos counters in Sainsbury's supermarkets.

It follows a tumultuous time for the British high street, with several popular chains including M&Co, Paperchase and Wilko all closing stores by 2023.

Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to rising inflation.

High energy costs and a shift to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll and many high street stores are struggling to continue.

Iceland closed another of its supermarkets in June.

In addition, New Look permanently shuttered two of its stores in June and July.

Not only shops are affected The major hamburger chain Byron Burger also fell into administration and immediately closed nine restaurants.

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