The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Closure of Beales store in Fair City confirmed
Bodyblow for Perth as outlet one of 12 to be axed following administration
Beales department store in Perth will close its doors for the final time in around eight weeks, administrators have revealed.
Politicians reacted with “immense disappointment” as KPMG made the announcement that the Fair City branch would be shut, along with 11 others across the UK.
The troubled chain fell into administration last month after failing to find a last-minute buyer.
All 23 shops across the UK were being kept open as a going concern but the death knell was confirmed yesterday evening.
The Perth branch occupies a landmark site in the heart of the city centre on St John Street, where the company moved in after Mcewens went into administration in 2016.
Pete Wishart MP said: “There’s been a magnificent response from the people of Perth to keep this open and we really hoped we would find a solution.”
The SNP politician said he would try to meet the administrators as soon as possible.
Perth and Kinross Council leader Murray Lyle said: “This is very disappointing news. Given the problems Beales was going through, closure was always going to be a distinct possibility, but it’s sad that it has become a reality.”
City centre SNP councillor Eric Drysdale said: “This is something that we have unfortunately been expecting.
“The confirmation that Beales is to close is another serious blow to Perth’s retail offering.
“I’m hoping the City Centre Action Group can meet very soon and we will, of course, be discussing this development and the wider context of what council and others can do to stop this gradual decline of the retail offering in Perth.”
A spokesperson for KPMG said: “The joint administrators of the Beales department store chain have confirmed that they remain in active discussions with interested parties regarding a going concern sale of a number of stores.
“Unfortunately, however, no offers have been received in respect of selling all 23 stores as a going concern.
“As a result, the joint administrators are now in the process of developing plans with store directors and management teams to implement the closure of 12 stores.”
It is thought the 12 stores will continue to trade for the next eight weeks, running closing down sales.
Employees are expected to be retained for the eight-week period to assist with trading and the joint administrators say they will “continue to work closely with staff during this period”.