Retail chain with 240 stores will close ‘beloved’ premises within a few weeks
SHOPPERS are devastated after learning that a 240-branch retail chain is looking to close another store.
Game will close its store in Saint Marks Place, Newark, next month.
The store will permanently stop its activities on Sunday, April 7.
Megan Sheldon, the assistant manager of the Newark store, told the Newark Advertiser: “I know a lot of people in Newark who love this store, and we absolutely love it too.
“It’s a huge loss for Newark and hopefully something happens in the future and we can get another game here.
“It’s definitely a huge loss for Newark. It’s such a great community and we have a lot of regular customers who love this store as much as we do.”
The store manager, Samantha Woods, said the store is closing following a higher order, which cannot be made public.
In light of the news, the store has launched a closing sale, with most products in the store now discounted by 20%.
Frasers Group, which owns the Game brand, has been contacted for comment.
Shoppers have reacted with devastation to the news on social media.
One person said on Facebook: “Hello, my son went there yesterday and in a month it will be closed. Shame to see it disappear.”
“What a huge loss,” said another customer.
A third said: “It always went to when they announced they wouldn’t trade up
“Unfortunately, game stores will close because they focus too much on new and not secondhand.”
Game has closed several branches in recent months, including those in Wales and Oxfordshire.
Meanwhile, two closed last year in Plymouth and Cambridge.
Below is a full list of game stores that have closed in recent months:
- Nuneaton, Warwickshire – November 10, 2023
- Newport, Wales – October 18, 2023
- Exeter, Devon, Guildhall shopping center – January (moved to Sports Direct on Rydon Lane)
- Witney, Oxfordshire – January 7
- Rugby, Warwickshire – January 7
- Huntington, Cambridgeshire – January 14
- Rhyl, Wales – February 4
- Plymouth, Devon – February 6
- Newton Abbot, Devon – March 17
- Grimsby, Lincolnshire – March 17
Game is also closing its store in the Union Square Shopping Center in Torquay, Devon.
The retailer was bought by billionaire businessman Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group in 2019 as part of a £52 million deal.
But by January 2020 it had announced plans to close 40 of its more than 300 stores in the UK.
There are currently more than 240 Game stores nationwide.
House of Fraser, which is also owned by Frasers Group, has also closed a number of stores.
The once iconic department store was saved from destruction by Mike Ashley in 2018.
But while the deal saved the chain’s 59 stores and the 17,000 employees who were dealing with the fallout from the crisis, many more stores have closed in recent years and only 28 department stores remain.
A series of stores were closed in 2023, including in Birmingham, Cardiff and Guildford.
What does Frasers Group own?
MIKE Ashley’s Frasers Group owns dozens of high street and online brands, here’s the full list.
- House of Fraser
- Sports Direct
- Washcloths
- Evans cycles
- Everlast gyms
- Eternally
- Game
- Frasers
- I saw it first
- Gieves and Hawkes
- Jack Williams
- Slazenger
- Studio
- Sofa.com
- USA Pro
- USC
What else is happening to Frasers Group chains?
It’s not just House of Fraser and Game stores that are closing, other Frasers Group chains have also reduced their store numbers.
A Sports Direct branch in Stroud, Gloucestershire, will pull down its shutters for good at the end of March.
Sports Direct also closed its branch in Central Six Retail Park, Coventry, at the end of January.
The Flannels location in the Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton, has downed its shutters for the final time in the new year.
It also closed its site in Bradford in January, despite only opening in October.
Designer clothing chain Choice has downed the shutters of one of its stores in Bromley.
Frasers Group acquired Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern as part of a £47.5 million deal in December 2022.
But the retail group brought in administrators for both Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern just 16 months later.
Earlier this month, the luxury brand Matchesfashion was also placed under administration.
It’s not all bad news, though, as the company has recently opened several sites.
Frasers Group has already started opening ‘new concept’ stores.
The concept stores include various Frasers brands such as Sports Direct, Flannels and beauty halls, as well as products from USC, Jack Wills and GAME.
In September it cut the ribbon on the latest of its new department stores with popular brands such as Sports Direct and Game in Norwich.
There are plans to open two more locations in Blackpool and Sheffield.
The group also announced it will take over the former John Lewis site in the Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough.
A new sportswear store is opening in The Precinct in Coventry.
The company has acquired Compton House on Liverpool’s famous Church Street and is about to open a flagship Sports Direct.
Retailers will close stores in 2024
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 switch to online shopping are also taking their toll, and many shops on the high streets are struggling to continue.
Here’s a list of all the major brands closing their stores this year:
- Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone stores in the UK last year as it looks to break away from the high street and focus on expanding its supermarket presence.
- B&V – The chain has over 300 stores across the UK, so there’s a good chance there’s one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots – The health and beauty chain announced last July that it would close 300 stores. The closures are ongoing and will reduce the retailer’s store count from 2,200 to 1,900 stores.
- Clintons – Clintons late last year considered plans to close 38 stores in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. We have listed the affected stores.
- Costa coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 locations nationwide, so there’s a good chance there’s one near you. The chain recently closed the doors of dozens of locations. We’ve revealed which stores are closing this year.
- Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores, but closed almost twenty locations in 2023, and more select stores will close.
- Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing store locations, causing a number of stores to close. But the retailer also wants to open twelve new supermarkets.
- MRS – M&S, which has 405 stores across the country, has closed a string of branches across the country in a blow to shoppers. But it’s not all bad news, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new stores.
- Offence – The company announced in July last year that it would close six branches, but more are in the pipeline.
- W.H.Smith – The retail giant, which operates more than 1,100 stores, has closed eight stores since March 2023, but more are on the way.
What else is happening on the shopping street?
Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, with shoppers cutting back on spending due to the rising cost of living.
High energy costs and the switch to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll and many stores on the high streets are 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 gone bankrupt in 2023, including Wilko and Paperchase.
The Lidl news comes just weeks after The Body Shop fell into administration.
Then last week it announced it would close nearly half of its 198 stores.
Seven branches have closed with immediate effect, including branches in Surrey Quays and Oxford Street, London.
Beginning of February, Hobbycrafts owner, Bridgepoint, is said to be exploring “strategic options” for the company.
These options could include the retailer being auctioned off.
In January, struggling fashion brand Superdry said it was looking at several “cost-cutting options” after reporting it was considering a major restructuring including store closures and job cuts.
Together with advisors from PwC, we worked on a plan that could lead to a CVA or another form of restructuring.
Such a move could result in store closures and potentially force rent reductions from landlords.