'I can't believe it' say fans as a retailer with 250 locations will have to close shop over DAYS
A HIGH street fashion retailer with 250 branches is set to close what shoppers are calling a 'fantastic' store within days.
Matalan will pull down the shutters of one of its stores for the last time next one week.
Matalan in The Core Shopping Centre, in Leeds, is due to close on February 24 local news reports.
It has also been reported that there are plans to demolish the entire shopping center in favor of a development with a mix of shops and student accommodation.
Local residents have reacted to the news via social media in recent weeks.
One posted: “Soon there will be nothing left in the city.”
Another wrote: “[In] In fifteen to twenty years there will no longer be a shopping street.”
A third commented: “Use it and lose it, if the footsteps can't support it it has to go. Very sad but that's where we are now.”
A fourth said: “I can't believe it. The Leeds I knew is already gone.”
And a fifth declared: “Omg bl***y stupid.”
While another shopper posted: “Nooooo!!!!”
“Too bad I liked the core shopping center,” said one disappointed resident.
Reviews for the Matalan store on Google have labeled the site as “fantastic” and “quality clothing for the whole family”.
A spokesperson for Matalan said: “We are working closely with our affected colleagues and are doing everything we can to find suitable positions across our local store network.
“Customers in the region will still be able to access our full product range via our website.
“We would like to thank all our customers in the local community for shopping with us.”
Several other Mataln stores have also closed their doors in recent months.
Matalan downed the shutters of his clearance store in Church Gate, Leicester, in January.
It also closed its Leytonstone store for the final time last month after more than two decades of trading.
Shoppers in Renfrew were left devastated in September when the announcement was made closure of the Blythswood Retail Park store.
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.
High street designer brand Kurt Geiger has downed the shutters of 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 left disappointed after a beloved electronics store announced it will close one of its locations for good.
Furthermore, Wetherspoons fans were left sad after a sudden closure last week saw the shutters pulled down on their favorite pub.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.