Debenhams has announced the closure date of their last remaining stores, with doors closing for the final time on 15 May. It is the end of an era as the department store ceases to trade after more than 200 years on UK high streets.
The Debenhams brand was purchased in January by retailer Boohoo for £55m. They will continue to sell products online, but did not buy any of the physical stores.
The long established company can trace its original roots right back to 1778. This is when William Clark opened a shop in London’s West End, selling fabrics, bonnets and parasols.
William Debenham invested in the firm in 1813, renaming it to Clark & Debenham.
Debenhams already announced that 8 May will see a further 52 shops close. The remaining sites are due to shut on either 12 or 15 May. Following the closures, around 12,000 employees will lose their jobs.
Problems before the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult time for a lot of people and businesses. Along with many other retailers, Debenhams struggled as non-essential retail was forced to close during lockdown.
However, the company was experiencing problems before the Covid crisis, suffering record losses, high levels of debt and property costs. The pandemic was the final nail in the coffin that they just could not overcome.
Debenhams was once the UK’s largest department store chain, but over the next 10 days, it will sadly say a final goodbye to the High Street, after a 242 year history.
The company is the latest in a long line of retailers and major department stores that have left our high streets in recent years.
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