‘Kids will be gutted’ as toy retailer confirms third store closure in weeks – is your local going?
A MUCH-LOVED toy retailer has announced a third store closures just days after confirming that two other shops will shut for good.
The Entertainer store in Cheltenham town centres is expected to close early in January.
The store, which is located on the top of the town’s High Street will bring the shutters down for the final time on Saturday, January 6, according to local news reports.
It comes just a day after The Entertainer confirmed that it would close its store in a popular Bristol shopping centre.
The Entertainer in The Galleries Shopping Centre will close for good in January.
Another of the retailer’s stores in Bishops Weald House, off Worthing Road in Horsham, will also close early next year.
Reacting to the news of the Cheltenham closures on Facebook, one shopper said: “This was the best toy shop in town with the best staff who were so helpful gonna miss it.”
Another said: “What a shame my grandkids will be gutted we go in there every time we go to town the staff are amazing so helpful and friendly.”
“Kids, staff and shoppers gutted,” said a third.
The Sun has contacted The Entertainer for comment.
It’s not just toy stores that have been hit hard, many high street retailers have been struggling to get buy over the past few years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
At the same time the cost of living has been rising, leading to shoppers cutting back on non-essential spending.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and have no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Popular chains including M&Co, Paperchase and Wilko closed all stores in 2023.
Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
B&M has closed nine of its stores since February this year.
Homebase closed a store last week leaving it with just 93 stores remaining since it was taken over by Hilco Capital in 2018.
It’s not just shops either, food and pub chains have also been hit, resulting in brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing.
However, some chains have managed to defy high street troubles and are actually set to open new shops.
These include discount chains like Poundland which is set to open 15 shops in the coming weeks and Greggs which is aiming to open 150 new sites this year.
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