Debenhams closures are ‘a huge blow’
CONCERN FOR FUTURE OF THE HIGH STREET
THE loss of Debenhams, which has been a cornerstone of the city centre for nearly 50 years, will leave “significant scars” on the high street, according to one business expert.
Nottinghamshire’s two Debenhams department stores, in Nottingham and Mansfield, will close for good after the brand was bought out by online fashion retailer Boohoo for £55 million.
Debenhams will continue as an online-only operation from next year, with all stores closing as part of a structured winding down of the business. It is unlikely that many of the remaining 12,000 jobs will be saved.
Independent retail analyst Nelson Blackley told the Post: “This is not just a huge blow for all those hard-working employees involved, but for the retail offer and local economy of the towns and cities in which Debenhams have traded, including Nottingham and Mansfield.
“Nottingham, as a major regional centre, still has a wide range of other retail brands and so the overall impact of Debenhams closure on the city’s retail offer should hopefully be manageable, although the store closure in such a prominent location won’t help the visual appearance of the city centre.
“However, the impact in Mansfield, and on footfall in the Four Seasons
Shopping Centre, in particular, will be more significant as Debenhams was an ‘anchor’ store and it comes less than a year after the Beales department store closed.”
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Department stores have been a centrepiece of high streets for a long time, and Debenhams occupies prime positions in Nottingham and Mansfield. Any departure would, in the short term, leave significant scars in these areas, not to mention the struggles of those who may face losing their jobs.”
Mr Blackley added: “In the age of Amazon and increasing online retail,
providing consumers with a wide choice of products under one roof no longer has a unique appeal.”
Debenhams in Long Row, overlooking Old Market Square, has been a landmark in the city since 1846, when it was established by Griffin & Spalding.
It was taken over by Debenhams in 1944, although the Griffin & Spalding name remained until 1973.
Hilary Silvester, chairman of Nottingham Civic Society, said: “The building and position in the city centre is very important and prominent. It’s a loved building.
“It’s particularly sad to lose such a big store in the middle of Nottingham given its location.
“The worry now is what it will become. We would like to see it divided up among retailers. It needs to be carefully looked at. If it’s going to be residential then we would not want to see more student flats.”
Mr Knowles added: “Local authorities, businesses and Government need to face up to the huge challenges that are facing us in the post-covid world. They must work together to identify what we’d like our town and city centres to look like.
“Collectively, we must find a solution that will deliver the investment, jobs and economic growth to enable these centres of commerce to thrive once more.”
Allan Barham, secretary of Old Mansfield Society, added: “It’s a big shame. The store has been there since the Four Seasons centre opened in the 1970s. We’ve lost both that and Beales too, which used to be the former Co-op.”