Large retail chain with 900 branches will close another store within a few days
A large retail chain with 900 branches is closing another store after several closures.
Discount supermarket Iceland will pull down the shutters on its site in the Rugby Central Shopping Center within days.
The frozen food specialist confirmed to The Sun that it will close the store on February 24.
Locals reacted to the news on social media, with many devastated by the closure.
One posted on Facebook: “Horrible, Iceland are going to close the Rugby Cente in February, first Wilko now this, at this rate there will be no more shops!”
Another commented: “It's a shame, it's just turning into a ghost town.”
A third said: “My favorite food shop in town, for frozen, fresh or groceries.
'Turns off places from Asda, where most city shoppers flock to like sheep, at the expense of other worthy retailers.'
A fourth wrote: “It's NOT getting better, is it?”
While a fifth posted: “There won't be a reason to go to the city center once it's gone.”
And a sixth commented: 'All these shops are closing in the city just to throw some flats and houses on top of them.
“Rugby is really dead.”
The impending closure of the Rugby store follows Iceland's decision to close its branch at the Rosemary Center in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on January 13.
It brings the total number of Icelandic stores closed in the past year to twenty.
The full list of stores that have closed is as follows:
- Mill Lane, Bromsgrove – February
- Chineham Shopping Centre, Basingstoke – February
- White Rose Centre, Rhyl – March
- South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight – March
- St Catherine's Place, Bedminster, Bristol – March
- Deiniol Centre, Bangor – March
- Newport – April
- Berwick – April
- Hexham April
- Flint, Wales – May
- Beccles, Suffolk – June
- St David's Place, Swansea – July
- Five – August 12
- Fratton – August 26
- Llanelli – September 2
- Crewe – September 16
- Grange Road, Birkenhead – September 16
- Trinity Road, Huddersfield – October 28
- Fulford Road branch in York – October 28
- Rosemary Center in Mansfield – January 13
In addition, Iceland will close its branch on Portswood Road, Southampton on Saturday 2 March.
This would bring the total number of closures to 22.
It is not clear whether more locations will follow later this year.
However, Iceland normally opens more than twenty new stores every year, while 24 new stores opened in the past year.
This means that the number of stores Iceland has across the country remains around 900.
What else is happening on the shopping street?
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.
Many retailers are struggling to make ends meet, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more consumers than ever are choosing to order online instead of going to the store.
This leaves some retailers struggling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Several major chains are pulling down the shutters for the last time this month.
Iconic brand The Body Shop went bankrupt this week, putting 200 stores at risk.
Matalan will pull down the shutters of one of its stores for the last time next week.
main Street Designer brand Kurt Geiger has pulled down the shutters on its Brighton store for the final time.
An iconic department store has that too closed its flagship store in London forever.
Last year it was announced that Fenwick would close its central London store on Bond Street for good, and on February 3 the shutters were pulled down for the final time.
A Tesco Express in Whitefriars Shopping Center is temporarily closed until March 4.
Lidl will pull down the shutters on its Thornaby site later this month.
The bargain retailer has confirmed that its Stockton-on-Tees locations will close on February 29.
Boots revealed it would close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.
Fashion chain Peacocks downed the shutters of its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.
Entertainment retailer HMV also closed its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire on January 27.
And the catering sector has also been hit: pubs such as Wetherspoons and restaurants such as Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito have closed their doors.
Meanwhile, shoppers are rushing to stock up on their favorites after a chain went bankrupt.
In addition, a total of 29 bank branches will close their doors in the coming days.
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