Monsoon Accessorize pulls out of town centre

A woman’s fashion retailer is the latest store to shut up shop in

East Kilbride town centre.

Monsoon Accessorize pulled down the shutters last Friday leaving another gap in the shopping centre.

This decision comes as part of the brand’s national restructuring, which has seen over 40 branches close in the last few years.

It is not yet known how many staff are affected locally.

The blow comes six months after Goldsmiths jewellers closed down after almost 16 years in the town.

Pizza Hut – a long-standing fixture in the town centre – also exited the centre after deciding against renewing its lease.

However, a spokesman for

EK, East Kilbride, was positive about finding a replacement for the Southgate mall retailer.

A spokesman for EK, East Kilbride, said:“Unfortunately market conditions across the retail industry continue to be extremely challenging and this has resulted in a number of Monsoon Accessorize outlets across the UK closing their doors, including the store in EK, East Kilbride.

“We are continuing to work to bring new operators to the centre and hope to be in a position to announce some new arrivals in the coming weeks.”

Thorntons left Southgate last year but the space was filled by retailer Candylicious.

KFC also re-opened in East Kilbride Shopping Centre – two years after leaving Centre West.

The fast-food chain’s new outlet is in the Princes Mall, near East Kilbride bus station.