Boost for town centre as Debenhams set to stay
Store and centre bosses agree on post lockdown future
Debenhams in East Kilbride has avoided closure after an agreement was reached with shopping centre bosses.
The beleaguered chain was already in administration but successfully renegotiated terms with the owners of 120 of its 142 sites.
That will see it shut five stores after failing to reach agreement with its landlords over rent, resulting in 1000 job losses.
But the East Kilbride town centre store will not be shut.
A spokesman for EK, East Kilbride said: “Debenhams has been a popular store here for many years and we are pleased to be able to clarify the situation.
“We confirm an agreement has been reached to keep the retailer in the town. The retail industry has been facing challenging market conditions over the past few years and the current coronavirus situation has increased the pressure on this and other industries still further.
“In response we have been continuing to work with all our operators to find ways to support them as plans are made for the eventual reopening of the centre.”
Debenhams has been a mainstay at Scotland’s largest undercover shopping and leisure centre since 2003, and had been in discussions with the centre about its long term future for a number of months.
Like all non-essential retailers at EK, East Kilbride, Debenhams remains closed at present.
Linda Fabiani MSP said: “This announcement is great news for Debenhams staff, the town centre, and of course for the people of East Kilbride.
“I am sure that EK’s town centre management have worked hard to enable this to happen and they should be congratulated on this good outcome for the town.
“There has been much talk of the store’s future in recent years, however I hope with this news we will continue to see it in the town centre for many more years to come.”
We told you in April how the retail giant had officially gone into administration – the second time in a year it had done so.
Twenty branches have already closed this year with the East Kilbride store previously having been given a reprieve.
A further 28 were needed to be shut next year along with closures in Northern Ireland.
The recent developments mean sites at shopping centres at Glasgow Silverburn, Reading, Croydon, Birmingham, and Leicester – owned by property giant Hammerson – will not reopen after the lockdown.
The 10 other non-Hammerson sites facing closure are Truro, Stratfordupon-Avon, Salisbury, Westfield, Leamington Spa, South Shields, Swindon, Kidderminster, Borehamwood, Southampton.