B&M is closing another store TODAY, giving customers just hours to shop there before it closes…so is it near YOU and a new one opening?
- The major retailer announced last month that it would close a number of stores in May
- But B&M is bucking the High Street trend by replacing often-closed stores
B&M is closing another store today, meaning customers have just a few hours to shop there before the doors close for the final time.
The store on Saddler Street in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is open until 5pm today and has apologized for the ‘inconvenience’ for customers.
As a result, customers in the area will have to travel two miles to their nearest B&M store in Shildon.
The closure comes as the major retailer announced last month it would close stores in the UK in May – despite a “very good performance” over the Christmas period with sales up nearly an eighth.
But many of the closures come as B&M is instead opening stores in nearby locations.
B&M announced last month that it would close stores in the UK in May
B&M’s decision to close stores but open new ones elsewhere is in stark contrast to the struggle in the High Street where many chain stores have closed their doors permanently and without replacement.
Major bank branches and major brands such as M&Co, Marks & Spencer and Clintons have announced recent closures.
Some 76 bank branches are closing for HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, TSB and Halifax across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Banks say they are closing branches as they have noticed a steep drop in visiting customers as people choose to use their mobile phones or computers to manage their money.
But closures are expected to isolate older or more vulnerable customers who don’t have access to the internet or online banking and need personalized advice.
After the pandemic, high street footfall has fallen, leaving UK high street stores struggling to stay afloat.
Brands have faced skyrocketing energy bills, exacerbating financial strain on struggling businesses, as customers also affected by the crisis seek cost-of-living cuts.
In February, fashion giant M&Co announced it would close all 170 stores, putting 1,910 jobs at risk.
A map with all 76 bank branches that close in May
In February, fashion giant M&Co announced it would close all 170 stores, putting 1,910 jobs at risk
As well as retailers closing stores, food and beverage chains are also taking a beating, with Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s announcing closures.
With shoppers hit by rising costs, many are now spending less on non-essential items to lower their weekly bills.
The increasing popularity of online shopping and delivery has also reduced the number of high street visitors in the UK, putting even more pressure on retailers.
B&M is closing stores but opening new ones nearby
A B&M store in Widnes, Cheshire, will close on Wednesday, May 17 and move to a new location in the same town before reopening on Wednesday, May 24.
B&M has posted the following statement on their website: “Your B&M Widnes store is moving from its current location in Bowers Retail Park to its new home in Widnes Trade Park (formerly The Range).”
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused while we provide you with a bigger and better B&M store.”
The chain’s Burnden Retail Park store in Bolton, Greater Manchester, will also close for good on May 24.
However, shoppers can still visit a nearby B&M, with another branch nearby on Manchester Road.
The chain has already closed five stores by 2023, including:
- Castlegate Shopping Centre, Stockton – February 25
- Maesglas Retail Park, Newport, Wales – March 4
- Boucher Road, Belfast – March 26
- Queens Drive Retail Park, Kilmarnock – March 26
- Broadwalk Shopping Centre, Bristol – March 29