New blow for city centre as Wilkies is to quit

Stirling shoppers have been dealt another blow with news that one of the city’s most established retailers is to close its doors in October.

Family-owned department store Wilkies has been trading in King Street for 15 years.

The quality fashion, footwear, and kitchenware retailer will close with nine staff expected to lose their jobs.

Wilkies had reported high running costs within a two-floor building which was larger than required.

It’s another loss to King Street which has already been hit by the economic downturn. The iconic McAree Brothers store closed down two years ago after struggling with soaring business rates.

Several Stirling city centre businesses closed in May including Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, which had been trading in Port Street for eight years, and pub and eaterie Boozy Cow which was near the

Wilkies store in King Street also ceased trading. Cafe and restaurant The Fat Cyclist in Friars Street and risque lingerie firm Ann Summers have also disappeared in recent months, although the latter’s unit has since been filled by brand store Joules.

Wilkies owner and managing director Karen Forret said she was “deeply saddened” by the news and stressed that the decision to end trading in the city had not been taken lightly.

She said: “Although there is a great sadness, we can leave the Stirling premises knowing that we have done everything in our power to make our store successful.

“The building has been too large for us for some time and, although we have explored renting out parts of it, unfortunately this did not have the desired outcome.

“In current trading conditions we can’t continue to run a store that is making a loss and we must use all of our efforts to ensure we can keep the rest of the business thriving.”

In an attempt to trade successfully, Wilkies have, in recent years, been evolving the shopping experience at their King Street shop, which is situated near the entrance to the Old Arcade. After a store facelift in early 2016, they revamped the first floor into Central Scotland’s biggest branded footwear clearance department. More branded fashion labels were also brought in such as White Stuff and Tigi.

Ms Forret added: “I would like to thank our wonderful staff for their hard work over the years. We have a fabulous team in Stirling and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

“We will look to offer roles where we have them in other stores. I would also like to thank our customers in Stirling and the surrounding areas who have supported us greatly. It has been a pleasure to serve you and I hope that we may see you in our other outlets such as Falkirk and Perth.”

As part of the closing down process, more than £500,000 worth of stock will be available on sale in the shop up until the final day of trading.

Wilkies opened its first outlet in Edinburgh in 1898 and over the years has branched out to more than 10 locations across Scotland. There are no plans to close any other Wilkies shops, leaving Wilkies of Falkirk and Perth the closest to Stirling.