The Retail Apocalypse (Incorporating Casual Dining Closures)

Jenuall wrote:I'm doing my best to keep Greggs afloat but there are only so many Festive Bakes that one man can eat!

Festive bakes :wub:

I had my third of the year yesteday :datass:

Awful for the staff - I hope they can all get the support they need.

Haven't had a Greggs since early March. Miss my sausage roll and pepperoni pizza fro my college lunch. It's a shame they're not on Uber Eats around here, it's only McDonald's (£3.99 delivery(!) because of the "far distance" when only around a mile away) or Subway (further away than McDonald's but the delivery is half the price)

There's a massive Debenhams, stand a lone in the middle of Norwich. I just can't see who would take that space.

Additionally there's also a large HoF in one of the malls, which I've heard isn't exactly in great shape...

I can see a lot of the real estate that used to house things like Debenhams and HoF getting turned into "luxury flats" when they all close down - at least those in town centre's that are often in pretty nice buildings.

They'll all get bought up and rented out by the same twats who had a hand in the businesses going tits up in the first place.

Jenuall wrote:I can see a lot of the real estate that used to house things like Debenhams and HoF getting turned into "luxury flats" when they all close down - at least those in town centre's that are often in pretty nice buildings.

They'll all get bought up and rented out by the same twats who had a hand in the businesses going tits up in the first place.

That was my initial thought, but I'm not sure how well it's placed, parking would be impossible (it's Norwich not London in terms of public transport).

It's possible someone buys Debenhams out of administration and keeps the better bits.

Ecno wrote:
Jenuall wrote:I can see a lot of the real estate that used to house things like Debenhams and HoF getting turned into "luxury flats" when they all close down - at least those in town centre's that are often in pretty nice buildings.

They'll all get bought up and rented out by the same twats who had a hand in the businesses going tits up in the first place.

That was my initial thought, but I'm not sure how well it's placed, parking would be impossible (it's Norwich not London in terms of public transport).

It's possible someone buys Debenhams out of administration and keeps the better bits.

I'm not convinced anyone involved in planning cares about parking these days judging by some of the places I see houses and flats being thrown up sometimes!

It'll be interesting to see what happens to the site.

I kind of do hope they turn it into flats, as we seem to have a land use model of shops and restaurants in the city centre with residential on the outside. When perhaps what is better is a mix of all together.

I'm also thinking, I like online shopping it's convenient and has more choice. Is pay more than go into town for something. So the fact that it's usually cheaper is a bonus. Let's hope the 2024 Lib/Lab coalition can improve working conditions at online retailers.

Imagine if retail staff were paid the same why as 'self employed' delivery staff. There'd be outrage.

The nearest Debenhams near me is in Norwich and it's huge, last time I went in there it certainly looked bare especially in the upper floors, shame it looks like they're going.
I wonder if Mike Ashley will finally get his wish and snap up the brand super cheap?

With all these shops closing or going into administration, it does make me wonder if once all this covid crap is over, is that the only shops that will be left will be the ones that could stay open in the lockdowns. Oh and Primark.

Crawley town's main shopping centre (the stunning County Mall) has a 3-floor Debenhams store that occupies the entire "end" of the mall - that's a hell of a lot of empty space for them to fill now.

Preezy wrote:Crawley town's main shopping centre (the stunning County Mall) has a 3-floor Debenhams store that occupies the entire "end" of the mall - that's a hell of a lot of empty space for them to fill now.

Millie's Cookies and the knock-off Apple Store. :datass:

Ecno wrote:Let's hope the 2024 Lib/Lab coalition can improve working conditions at online retailers.

The Lib Dems actually have MP's these days?

Cuttooth wrote:
Preezy wrote:Crawley town's main shopping centre (the stunning County Mall) has a 3-floor Debenhams store that occupies the entire "end" of the mall - that's a hell of a lot of empty space for them to fill now.

Millie's Cookies and the knock-off Apple Store.

GRcade meet up confirmed :toot:

Preezy wrote:Crawley town's main shopping centre (the stunning County Mall) has a 3-floor Debenhams store that occupies the entire "end" of the mall - that's a hell of a lot of empty space for them to fill now.

Same in Brighton's Churchill Square, two massive end-of-terrace type floors. Thousands of square feet.

Just went on the Debenhams website and it has put me in a virtual queue for 8 minutes. Fire sale?

Drumstick wrote:Same in Brighton's Churchill Square, two massive end-of-terrace type floors. Thousands of square feet.

It is Brighton though, so the space will likely be filled with vintage clothing and vegan snack bars anyways.

The Debenhams in the Metro Centre is gigantic, it's 4 or 5 floors and is again another entire end of the mall.

KK wrote:Just went on the Debenhams website and it has put me in a virtual queue for 8 minutes. Fire sale?

I use the Scriptblock extension and if you don't allow scripts from Debenhams.com it blocks the queue system and lets you directly into the website :lol:

Vermilion wrote:
Drumstick wrote:Same in Brighton's Churchill Square, two massive end-of-terrace type floors. Thousands of square feet.

It is Brighton though, so the space will likely be filled with vintage clothing and vegan snack bars anyways.

I'll miss Debenhams. I used to buy a lot of clothes from there (because dressed like a dad from the age of 18) and the one in Sheffield used to have a branch of Game within it. I remember the store clerk telling me they were getting stock of Wii consoles in Jan 2007 when they were like gold dust. I went straight down there on the Monday morning and was queuing outside from 8am. I was the only one there and the staff must have thought I was a right nutter.

Still got the console and 3 games though.

The Retail Apocalypse (Incorporating Casual Dining Closures)

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