The shops that we lost in 2021

IT has been a tough couple of years for businesses in retail as they have continuously been forced to close due to the pandemic.

Added to that, many people lost their confidence in going out after being told to stay in for so long and turned to the internet for their shopping needs.

The high street is always changing but since the pandemic began it is changing more than ever – and not for the better.

In 2021 some big-name shops in Burton closed their doors for good, some not reopening after the lockdown at the beginning of the year.

Others have now become online brands as more and more shops are left empty. Nationally the picture is looking the same with Debenhams and Miss Selfridge among the other names that have been lost to internet shopping.

Shops that closed for good in Burton in 2021:

TOPSHOP

Topshop was based in Coopers Square shopping centre until it was closed for good back in February after the collapse of Arcadia.

Online clothing giant ASOS rescued Sir Philip Green’s flagship Topshop brand for £295 million but that did not include keeping the stores and they were closed across the country.

The Topshop brand is now only available online. Clothes shop Blue Inc has now taken over the vacant store and opened back in September.

BURTONS MENSWEAR

The collapse of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group during the pandemic also meant that Burtons Menswear closed in Station Street.

It was confirmed back in February that this would happen and now the brand is available online but there are no shops anywhere in the country.

The vacant store has been taken over by The Home Store.

DOROTHY PERKINS

Dorothy Perkins was also a victim of the Arcadia Group collapse and the store in The Octagon shopping cen- tre closed at the beginning of the year along with the others.

LOVE AROMA

Love Aroma, in Coopers Square shopping centre, announced that it had closed its Burton store at the beginning of November “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

The store was popular for its scented candles as it brought together a collection of home fra- grance brands from around the globe.

There are still other Love Aroma stores that are open, including in the Derbion shopping centre in Derby city centre.

THORNTONS

Chocolate lovers across the country shed a tear as Thorntons announced it would be closing all of its shops across the country, including in

Coopers Square shopping centre.

Back in March, the chocolatier has said the on-going impact of the Covid pandemic and the changing shopping habits of its customers was the reason behind the decision and it meant 603 jobs were impacted.

YUM YUM

A sign went up at the beginning of the year to say sweet shop Yum Yum was temporarily closed in Station Street due to the lockdown but it never reopened. However, it would have been allowed to stay open under the lock- down rules as it sold food.

The owners never renewed the lease and it was put up to let. Fash- ion Palace has since taken over the shop, specialising in Italian, French, Turkish and Polish brands including LA MU Company, My Voga and Paparazzi Fashion.

HAYS TRAVEL

Back in January, Hays Travel closed its Burton store, in Station Street, only 18 months after it opened.

The Cannock, Coalville and Tamworth branches all closed, but Hays’ other Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire shops remained trading.

The branches opened when Hays took over collapsed travel giant Thomas Cook’s shops in October 2019.

The closure was blamed on Covid hitting the travel industry hard.