Argos UK store closures – which branches are closing and why?
ARGOS is closing several more stores this summer after shutting dozens of shops earlier this year.
The big high-street brand has already closed 37 of its UK stores and a further five stores are set to close in August.
We explain how many Argos stores will be closing and where. Here’s what we know.
How many Argos stores will be closing and why?
The closures are part of the retailer’s plan to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
It aims to “make shopping more convenient to customers” enabling them to “purchase thousands of technology, home and toy products from Argos while picking up their groceries.”
Argos which is owned by Sainsbury’s said it plans to close 100 stores across the UK in 2023/24 – but many of the locations have not yet been confirmed.
Which Argos stores are closing down?
The homewares retailer confirmed to The Sun that its standalone stores in Grimsby and Scunthorpe will close in August – but it could not confirm the exact dates.
Argos stores will be opened inside nearby Sainsbury’s stores in both Lincolnshire towns.
The Argos store in St Stephen’s shopping centre in Hull will also close next month, and it’s understood a new Argos concession will open in the nearby Sainsbury’s.
Here’s a full list of standalone Argos stores closing in August:
- Hull
- Grantham
- Grimsby
- Norwich
- Scunthorpe
Locations in Newport and Cardiff Bay in Wales will also shut up shop later in the year.
What other stores have closed already?
Argos had already shut 45 branches in the last 12 months up to March this year.
At the same time, it opened 25 branches inside Sainsbury’s stores.
This year alone the retailer shut stores in the following locations:
- Coventry
- Nottingham
- Lanarkshire
- Birkenhead
It also closed all of its 34 stores in the Republic of Ireland on June 24.
The full list of stores that closed down in Ireland are:
- Ashbourne Retail Park
- Athlone Argos
- Blanchardstown West End Argos
- Carlow Argos
- Castlebar Argos
- Cavan Argos
- Clonmel Argos
- Cork Mahon Argos
- Cork Retail Park Argos
- Drogheda Argos
- Dun Laoghaire Argos
- Dundalk Retail Park Argos
- Dundrum Argos
- Galway Argos
- Ilac Centre (Dublin) Argos
- Kilkenny Argos
- Killarney Argos
- Letterkenny Argos
- Liffey Valley Argos
- Limerick Childers Road Argos
- Longford Argos
- Monaghan Argos
- Naas Argos
- Navan Argos
- Omni Park (Dublin) Argos
- Portlaoise Argos
- Rathfarnham Nutgrove Argos
- Sligo Argos 4146
- St. Stephens Green (Dublin)
- Tallaght Argos
- Tralee Argos
- Tullamore Argos
- Waterford Argos
- Wexford Argos
The company blamed the closure of the Republic of Ireland stores on the investment required to develop and modernise the Irish part of its business as “not viable”.
By March 2024, Sainsbury’s expects to have 160 standalone stores and between 430 and 460 Argos counters inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
It follows a particularly tumultuous time for UK high streets with several popular chains including M&Co and Paperchase closing all stores in 2023.
Retailers have been feeling the pinch since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to soaring inflation.
High energy costs and a shift to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Iceland closed down another one of its supermarkets in June.
Plus, New Look permanently pulled the shutters down on two of its shops in June and July.
Shops aren’t the only ones affected, major burger chain Byron Burger also fell into administration and closed nine restaurants immediately.