Big retailer delivers town centre blow

Shoe shop Stead & Simpsons is holding a closing down sale but has not confirmed when it is due to exit, leaving a significant hole in the town centre.

 

There had been rumblings that the shop was not happy with Welshpool’s performance for some time and was believed to be trying to negotiate cheaper rent, but it seems that the end is nigh for one of the few national retailers left in the town centre.

 

“We can confirm that the store in Welshpool is closing down due to poor performance and rising costs which make the location unsustainable,” said a spokesperson. "The decision to close a store is always a difficult one and is not taken lightly. We always try to re-deploy any staff affected to nearby stores wherever possible.

 

“The date of closure is not yet confirmed and we always communicate this to our staff first.”

 

Last year M&Co wrote to civic leaders voicing their concern at low takings at its new shop which filled the void when Woolworth's went bust. And developers have failed to deliver on a promise of national shops as part of the Tesco site, leaving an awful eye sore of blue boarding stretching alongside the scenic canal.