The Retail Apocalypse (Incorporating Casual Dining Closures)

Out in South East Asia and the middle east stores open till 9-10pm everday. Which makes sense in a lot of ways as it allows people to go get what they need after being at work all day.

I remember being in Hong Kong years ago and being caught completely off guard when I went out in the morning and found that basically no shops opened until about 11am.

I had a similar thing in klone in Germany. Hungover to strawberry float and wanting breakfast and it seems they were all having a lie in.

Labour have come out against it...

BBC News wrote:The shadow foreign secretary earlier told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that she believed relaxing Sunday trading laws was "wrong" and she was unconvinced letting shops open for longer would help get the economy back on track.

The government reportedly plans to suspend the laws for a year in a bid to stimulate the economy after the coronavirus crisis.

Lisa Nandy says her party is against the relaxation of Sunday trading laws in the UK.

"No, this is the wrong thing to do," Ms Nandy told the BBC's Andrew Marr show

"I'm not convinced this will help get the economy back on track. We've been applauding our frontline workers, and supermarket workers are among those.

"They are worried what this will mean in terms of time with their families. It could hit our high streets hard because of Covid-19."

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... r-18388610

Debenhams at the Metro Centre won't ever re open.

BBC News wrote:The coronavirus pandemic has claimed another 3,000 UK jobs after the Restaurant Group confirmed plans to shut 125 of its outlets.

The firm said the axe would fall mainly on its Frankie and Benny's restaurants, but other chains such as Garfunkel's and Chiquito will also be affected.

Meanwhile, fashion group Monsoon Accessorize has announced 545 job losses and the closure of 35 shops.

On Wednesday, fashion chain Quiz also announced it would place its stores in administration, putting jobs at risk.

It said its loss-making shops were not currently "financially viable".

Quiz said it would put its 82 outlets in the UK and Ireland into administration before buying them back so it can negotiate better rental terms with its landlords.

It said some 822 employees out of a total of 915 would transfer to the new company.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52990612

Selling accessories for monsoons in the UK sounds like a niche market anyway. Probably set-up by somebody who won The Apprentice.

Not sure they can really blame the pandemic here. It might've pushed them over the egde, sure, but something would've done that sooner or later, as they were all in a bad way before this year. I went to a Chiquito a few months back, and the food was awful. Same with Frankie and Benny's, it's just bottom-of-the-barrel and overpriced. Surely the people who run these places can see that shitty food, too many outlets, miserable staff, and overpriced menus aren't a good recipe for success. I've never heard of Garfunkel's, looks like it's just a London thing.

Last time I went to a Chiquito's several years ago - there were two staff getting off with each other in the corner and the only one who appeared to be doing any work decided to empty the bins through the centre of the restaurant where ourselves and other paying customers were still eating. Surprisingly enough we never went back to there or any of there chains.

I don't think i've ever even seen a Garfunkels outside of London.

Vermilion wrote:I don't think i've ever even seen a Garfunkels outside of London.

There used be one in the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport but it closed.

As long as Aberdeen Steakhouse doesnt go under, we're ok.

Out of interest I took a look at Frankie and Benny's menu.

Mozzarella Sticks - £5.69
Dough Balls - £4.99
Double Bacon Cheese Burger - £14.99
Classic Beef Lasagne - £10.49
Frankie's Classic Meatballs with Spaghetti - £13.29
15'' Italian Hot Pizza - £17.39
Ultimate Mixed Grill - £20.99
Classic Chicken Caesar Salad - £12.89
NY Deli Hero Sandwich - £14.99

I mean strawberry floating hell, these are fairly standard dishes that you'd find at a lot of pubs and restaurants (i.e. nothing special or unique), and considering the quality's pretty poor, the prices are crazy. The menu's also huge as well.

They were in the process of switching the Frankie & Benny's in Crawley for a Wagamama's, but that isn't going ahead now because of all this

Preezy wrote:They were in the process of switching the Frankie & Benny's in Crawley for a Wagamama's, but that isn't going ahead now because of all this

The one next to Nandos?

I've been to Frankie and Benny's once and it didn't seem much better than something from Spoons or any other major pub chain.

Every F&Bs I've ever had has been fine, but the one time I went to Chiquito's it was literally the worst meal out I've ever had.

Cuttooth wrote:
Preezy wrote:They were in the process of switching the Frankie & Benny's in Crawley for a Wagamama's, but that isn't going ahead now because of all this

The one next to Nandos?

The very same. Not sure what's going to go there now, ah well.

Godzilla wrote:https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/debenhams-close-metrocentre-site-after-18388610

Debenhams at the Metro Centre won't ever re open.

I'm shocked at this. I'm certain they paid for some of the red mall upgrades too when it was re-designed, it's the focal point of that end. Can't see anything filling it,

Yeah I remember when it we built and replaced the old Asda. It'll be very strange without it there and since Next and Primark both have new ish stores there already there isn't really anyone left to take it over.

The new bit opposite with Krispy Kreme has an empty store and Toys R Us is still empty. WhSmith has downgraded to a one floor smaller store and GAME has gone from 3 stores to 1 crap one.

The restaurant bit will look horrendous if more of those close.

Also that Angry Birds golf thing is just weird.

When Dunnes went into administration or whatever a two years ago they had the largest unit in my local shopping centre. The bit it was in was huge compared to everything else in there and nothing has moved in since, it's remained boarded up. It's going to be grim seeing how empty that centre is when everywhere starts opening again since a lot of it is just shops that will probably be closing when their lease is up since the rent is so high.

The Retail Apocalypse (Incorporating Casual Dining Closures)

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