Marks and Spencer (M&S) has confirmed the closure of its store in the heart of Sunderland city centre.
The high street retailer will shut down operations of its High Street West store on May 25, 2024.
This is the latest store closure from M&S in recent months with more expected to take place throughout the year.
Britain’s high streets have been hit by a wave of store closures in recent years as consumers change their shopping habits.
Despite this coming closure, residents in the area will not be left bereft of a Marks and Spencer location.
The company confirmed it will open a brand store at the Washington Galleries, a shopping centre in Sunderland, May 30.
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This 47,000 square foot shop will replace the M&S Simply Food store which is situated at the location.
Speaking to the BBC, locals in Sunderland described M&S leaving the city’s high street as a “blow”.
Haley Ramm told the public broadcaster: “It’s going to take people out of Sunderland again and Washington is not great for people who shop here to get to.”
Andy Preston, the former mayor of Middlesborough, previously said “the nature of the high street is changing”.
The politician added: “Town centres need to reinvent themselves.”
Analysis conducted by PwC determined there was a net of 14 store closures a day in 2023 due to changing consumer habits.
As such, there were 5,000 fewer stores operating across the UK last year with Marks and Spencer being one of the many retailers shutting down sites.
On average, 39 chain brands shut down locations every day with only 25 new stores opening over the period.
This meant there were a staggering 14,081 store closures in the UK last year, according to PwC.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
M&S is opening another store nearby
MARKS AND SPENCER
Here is a full list of the M&S stores that are earmarked to be closed in 2024 and beyond:
- Green Street, Neath – May 2024
- St Nicholas Street, Aberdeen – 2025
- St Mary Street, Weymouth – exact date to be announced
- High Street West, Sunderland – exact date to be announced
- Maidens Walk, Hexham – exact date to be announced
- Broadway Shopping Centre, Bradford – exact date to be announced
- Exchange, Ilford, East London – exact date to be announced
- King William Street, Blackburn – exact date to be announced
- Walworth Road, Walworth, South London – exact date to be announced.
