Beloved home supplies chain with 80 locations closes branch for good
A POPULAR home supplies chain is about to close one of its branches for good.
Yankee Candle has launched a closing sale at its store in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.
The retailer most popular for its scented candles opened the outlet at Gunwharf Quays in 2018.
However, local news channel The Portsmouth News has reported that “closing signs” have appeared in the store.
A sign in the front of the window reads ‘store closing’ and informs customers that the store will be closed on Monday, April 1.
Disappointed locals are reacting to news of the closure on social media.
One person said: “Another store closing, so sad.”
Another commented: “OMG I have to get there before they close.”
While a third exclaimed: “This is extremely bad news.”
Other buyers look forward to the cheap deals they can get on sale.
One person added: “We need to get some bargains.”
While another local resident, devastated by the branch’s closure, said: “I won’t be going to Gunwharf there again.”
The Sun has reached out to Yankee Candle for comment and will provide an update here once we know more.
The Portsmouth branch is not the only branch the retailer has closed in recent weeks.
It also put down the shutters on its brand at The Lexicon shopping center in Bracknell, Berkshire.
The store had only opened a few weeks earlier as a temporary Christmas pop-up during the holidays.
It closed for the last time on January 19 after launching a massive 50% discount.
Despite only being open for a short time, many shoppers were still sad to see it go and took to social media to share their thoughts.
One Facebook user said: “I actually thought this was a good store to have all year round. Stop throwing away stores!!”
Another customer wrote: “It’s a shame.”
A third added: “Our town will soon be empty. It’s such a shame for all the staff too.”
Our city will soon be empty
It comes as many retailers are struggling to survive on the high street due to the rising cost of living.
Footfall in city centers is not what it used to be as many people choose to stay at home and shop online instead.
This means that some retailers are coming to the conclusion that it is not worth having a physical premises, especially if they already have an online presence.
The latest victim is iconic health and beauty retailer The Body Shop, which recently went bankrupt.
Last week it confirmed it would close seven branches with immediate effect.
Administrators at the stalwart retail chain said the current store offering is “no longer viable” but the move to restructure will “secure the future of the brand”.
Other major brands such as Wilko and Paperchase went bankrupt last year, while many more, such as pharmacy chain Boots, reduced the size of their store portfolio.
Struggling fashion brand Superdry has also said it is exploring various “cost-cutting options” after reporting it is considering a major restructuring including store closures and job cuts.
Even charity shops such as Oxfam are struggling, having confirmed last year that it would close eight of its UK stores.
It’s not just retailers leaving empty shops on high streets across the country; major banks are closing locations as more and more people bank online.
A total of 189 bank branches will close their doors this year.
This includes major lenders that are a fixture on the British high street.
Barclays is closing 34 branches, Lloyds is closing 60 and the Bank of Scotland (BoS) is closing 16.
Meanwhile, 47 branches in Halifax will close and NatWest 21.
We’ve got the full list of bank branches closing in 2024, and advice on what to do if your local bank is affected.