Remaining Debenhams Stores to Close for Last Time as COVID Shutdown Ends Over 240-Year Retail History | Economic news

Debenhams stores across the UK will close their doors for the last time later, ending more than 240 years of retail history.

The department store chain, a staple of shopping streets since 1778, will permanently close its remaining 28 stores on Saturday after the company collapsed amid the fallout from the COVID-19[female[femininepandemic.

It closed 21 of its sites across the UK for the last time on Thursday.

The retailer was already struggling before the coronavirus outbreak, as shoppers moved away from traditional department store models and went online.

But it couldn’t cope with the forced closure of sites during the lockdown and quickly entered administration weeks after the virus hit the UK completely.

The company, which began life as a high-end clothier in London’s West End, began its liquidation process earlier this year after failing to secure a salvage sale.

Debenhams, which employed more than 20,000 people before the pandemic, reopened sites from April 12 after a critical retail outlet reopened to free up inventory in its stores.

Administrators sold the brand to online player Boohoo for £ 55million in January, but confirmed his physical activity would be shut down for good.