‘Such a great shop’ sob fans as iconic shoe chain with 320 branches suddenly closes ‘lifeline’ store after 35 years
AN iconic shoe shop with over 300 branches has closed a store following a string of closures earlier this year.
Clarks confirmed it has shut the doors on a 35-year-old branch in Malborough in another blow to the high street.
The store located next to the Merchant’s House on Marlborough’s High Street pulled the shutters down for good on Monday, April 22.
Marlborough will now have no dedicated shoe shop in the area.
If customers want to reach another Clarks store they will need to travel to Swindon which is approximately 10 miles away.
Locals reacted to the news online many called the store a “lifeline” and praised its staff for their service.
One user said: “It’s sad to hear that a well-loved shop is closing. I always bought Clarke’s shoes for my two sons when they were small.”
“Where will parents in Marlborough have to go now to buy good quality shoes for their children?”
Another user on Google said: “Such a great shop.”
“Staff were very attentive and patient,” said a third user.
A Clarks Spokesperson told The Sun: “Clarks confirms its store in Marlborough has closed.”
“We’d like to thank our loyal customers who have shopped with us at our Marlborough store, and we’ll be delighted to continue to serve them with our full range of products online and at our nearby Clarks stores in Swindon, Chippenham and Andover.”
This is one of many Clarks stores that have closed this year the Clarks store in Abingdon, Oxfordshire closed just two days ago.
A store in East Grinstead closed in March and another in Walsall closed in February.
What else is happening on the high street?
High street retailers have struggled in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail.
High energy costs and business rates have hit retailers hard.
This has left some businesses grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Several well-known major brands have fallen into administration including Wilko and Paperchase.
This year, The Body Shop fell into administration and has seen dozens of branches close and 82 will have shut in total by the end of April.
Boots announced it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Here’s a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:
- Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
- Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
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