CUSTOMERS have cried "not another one" as a major high street retailer with 240 branches gears up to close a site in just days.

Game is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Commercial Street, Newport, Wales, on October 18.

But the store is relocating and will reopen inside the Sports Direct unit on the corner of the same street just two days later.

Store manager Sam Weldon told The South Wales Argus, which first reported the closure: "We are closing due to rent.

"Other Game stores have moved inside House of Fraser or Sports Direct.

"So, we will be relocating inside Sports Direct two days after closing."

Read more in Store Closures

FINAL FAREWELL

Major fast food chain locks doors and shares sad message with shoppers

BYE BYE

High street clothes shop with over 300 stores to shut another branch

Shoppers have shared their devastation at the store relocation, which will leave another unit in Newport city centre empty.

One said: "Not another one," while a second said: "There's going to be no shops left at this rate."

Meanwhile, a third sorrowful shopper added: "So sad, another one bites the dust."

Game was bought out by business tycoon Mike Ashley's then Sports Direct in June 2019 as part of a £52million deal.

Most read in Money

TOY JOY

Martin Lewis’ message to all ‘savvy mum savers’ shopping for toys this Xmas

CLOSING TIME

Wetherspoons drinkers mourn loss of ‘institution’ after pub chain update

BILL HELP

UK energy firm with 10m customers to give thousands an extra £150 for winter

DELIGHTFUL

Shoppers go wild for ‘beautiful’ new treat based on iconic 90s childhood dessert

But by January 2020 it had announced plans to close 40 of its more than 300 stores across the UK.

Today, there are over 240 Game stores nationwide. You can find your nearest by using the store locator on its website.

In June this year, closure signs were seen in the windows of a Game branch in Braehead, Scotland, as it geared up to relocate to a nearby Sports Direct unit.

It comes as Sports Direct, part of Mike Ashley's now-named Frasers Group, relocates two stores this autumn in Norwich and Newcastle.

House of Fraser has closed four stores this year too, including in Cardiff and Solihull.

A number of other retailers have been closing branches across the UK in 2023.

The high street has been suffering as consumers increasingly turn to online retail and away from physical branches.

High inflation since 2022 has seen households' budgets squeezed too meaning they've got less expendable cash.

That, combined with high energy and wage costs, has seen a number of businesses forced to close stores.

In July, Boots Pharmacy said it would be closing 300 branches as part of plans to consolidate its portfolio.

Meanwhile, a number of retailers have crashed into administration including Cath Kidston, Paperchase and M&Co.

It's not just retailers closing locations either – a number of high street banks and building societies have been shutting branches in the UK.

A lot of bankers can do the majority of tasks online now and have less need to visit a physical site.

But it's not all bad news as a number of retailers have been expanding despite a hostile economic backdrop.

Read More on The Sun

END OF THE ROAD

BBC axes Top Gear as bosses rule there is no way back after Flintoff crash

MY HORROR

I hope my son's heartbreaking story might save your baby – avoid car seat mistake

Supermarket chain Iceland has been opening stores, with some under the Iceland Local brand.

Primark, Poundland and B&M have all been growing their portfolios too.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.

Source: Read Full Article