As we, hopefully, near the end of the third national lockdown, we take a look back at some of the casualties on the high street as stores struggled through challenging times throughout 2020 and into the start of 2021 – with some closing their Swindon stores for good, and others on the brink of closure.
Debenhams and Arcadia are possibly the two prominent brands to have disappeared from the Swindon shopping scene during the lockdown periods, though Arcadia had already closed its town centre stores twelve months before the pandemic hit.
One of the earliest closures in Swindon was confirmed as Debenhams who were going through administration before the coronavirus struck however the pandemic hit the final nail into the retailers coffin with the brand being sold to online retailer Boohoo and all remaining physical stores closing.
Outdoor specialists Trespass, clothing stores Peacocks and Bonmarché in Regent Street had the ‘closing down sale’ signs with the former reversing this decision and signing a new lease.
It is still unclear if the clothing retailers will reopen once the national lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Sainsbury’s announced the closure of the Brunel Centre store leaving a big gaping hole in the shopping centre.
In a similar fashion to Debenhams, online retailer Asos announced they would be taking over the Topshop and Topman brands, the closure of another store was confirmed.
A spokesperson from Deloitte confirming the sale of the Arcadia brands to ASOS will mean that the Outfit store at the Orbital will also be going, adding: “The stores are all closed because of lockdown and will not be reopening.”
in the past few weeks River Island have relocated their town centre store over to the Orbital and Clark’s have announced the closure of the store in the Parade.
Paperchase in the Outlet Village is potentially on the brink as the card retailer said 37 of its 127 stores will shut their doors permanently despite securing a rescue deal which is expected to save around 1,000 jobs. It is not yet known which stores will shut.
Mike Ashley’s Fraser group announced the House of Fraser store in Wharf Green would be closing in September before backtracking, with the store still expected to reopen once lockdown measures are lifted.
Which of these stores are you going to miss the most?
