House of Fraser to close !

Our nearest town has, for many years, only had two shops worth visiting, M&S and HoF.
HoF has been getting slowly worse over the past ten years or so, threadbare carpets, narrower range of goods, sullen staff, I've been expecting it to close for a long while.
Didn't expect lots of other stores to close too though.

I'm with MOnica here in that I can't remember when I last ventured over the threshold of a HoF establishment. Think I find them somewhat dull and the layout of our local Debenhams is awful. It's always sad to hear of prospective job losses but I suppose I contributed in some small by not shopping there. Chicken and egg methinks?

Not surprised the original House of Fraser in Leicester closed and turned into a tatty outlet store. It used to be like a ghost town. If you went up to the top floor, many times there would be absolutely no-one around, not even staff. The first time it happened I wondered if it was even open, and I wasn’t meant to be in there. The outlet store was dreadful, I thought, I don’t miss that, but it’s a shame for people who have lost jobs. Debenhams and M&S both look a bit tired, perhaps the day of the big department store is over, they are all concessions now, not really one store at all.

It's a shame for so many to lose jobs. When I last went in our local store I found it so dull.

Not surprised. In Edinburgh they bought over Jenner’s (store with a LONG history). Also had Frasers at the other end of the street but put the same sort of stuff in each store so locals tended to go to one only. Tourists went to Jenner’s. The result, the west end store is to close (and if I remember correctly, has been sold to developers).

Sad for the people who will lose their jobs, but as others have said Debenhams and John Lewis are losing their charm, as Primark is stepping in and the Internet taking over.

I too think Debenham's will be next.

Northampton Marks and Sparks announced it was closing recently, and there's already talk it will be replaced by student flats ! And that's in what is essentially the High Street !

It’s a sad day .... primark and the internet wars have done this ... modern times and I do feel sad for the workers ... and the store ... there are worse things in life I know ... just feeling nostalgic for all the British’s brands disappearing .. HOF 170 years old !

But, strangely, not the Nottingham one which is always half empty. We sometimes call in as it is between the car park and John Lewis and feel terribly sad that it is nowhere near as good as in the 'old' days.

I read an article yesterday that said just that greyduster. In Leicester there is a gazillion pound refurbishment of an old department store and House of Fraser combination to make way for a Zara flagship store and other high end boutiques.

The news today says House of Fraser to close 31 stores including the Oxford Street branch.

I was surprised to see Oxford Street branch is on the closure list - that is always such a busy place.

I’m afraid I agree with MOnica, and frankly I wonder if the writing is on the wall for Debenhams too. Their stores seem very lacklustre these days. It is a shame that so many should lose their jobs though.

I think the day of the department store is over. It’s all individual concessions now anyway. I wanted a smart dress for a wedding and had to go all over the store to see what each concession had. Sales people are attached to their concession and wanted me to just try on their stuff before going to another concession. Only three items in the changing room at a time ! Dress, for ndress, dress, undress. I lost the will to live, let alone buy.

I wonder if the management actually ever try shopping in their own store!

I will correct my OP apparently the entire chain is not to close. Sadly most if their stores are though .

Sorry for the job losses, but for along time it has been a dull muddled store, like Debenhams. I cannot remember when I last went in one and I am not surprised the chain has collapsed.