Debenhams buy out

Janejugde chelseababy Single lane Bedford High Street? That’ll produce a nice gridlock?

Many years since I lived there but they never thought anything through. ?

In normal times I used to meet up monthly with other GNs at Debenhams Oxford Street for coffee and lunch. I have no idea what will happen to that large unwieldy store. Not quite where one would expect to see very expensive blocks of flats. Maybe the ground floor could be retail- who knows?

MawBe

Don’t forget Boohoo’s links with Leicester sweatshops

Yes, I realise now I have heard of Boohoo.
That's where I read about them.

Surely cheap, disposable goods and clothes made by exploited workers in dreadful conditions here and overseas is not the way to go?
It's very depressing.

chelseababy

JaneJudge are you near Bedford by any chance? Debenhams closing will be a big loss to the town and a huge square footage. At the moment the high street is being converted to a single lane to allow more shoppers and browsing and a "cafe culture" Fat chance.

yep all that stuff they have built by the river too, it is all going to be empty after covid. They really need to think about what is going to happen to keep the remaining spaces at capacity.

Very sad to hear about Debenhams shops closing and feel very sorry for the staff. From what I’ve heard Boohoo is mainly targeted at young people and the quality is poor. Haven’t bought anything myself though.

I won’t be buying anything from Boohoo, owned by billionaires who have some ( maybe quite a lot?)of their garments made in Asian sweatshops in Leicester.Remember the £5 dress?

Debenhams stores could well be made into apartments, as many younger couples like to live in the city.

JaneJudge are you near Bedford by any chance? Debenhams closing will be a big loss to the town and a huge square footage. At the moment the high street is being converted to a single lane to allow more shoppers and browsing and a "cafe culture" Fat chance.

I think that's a good thing to be honest. I am just not sure there is any call for those type of department stores anymore. I quite liked debenhams online so will have a look what boohoo does with it.

The department store locally is being turned into student accommodation. It’s an enormous building with quirky level and twists and turns.

We’ve still got an M&S but it seems to be a dumping ground for all unsold items and seconds.

I've been told my nearest D is currently being converted into flats.

My local Debenhams is not on the main road so I am certain it will be blocks of flats. My council also think people should walk or ride a bike so no car park spaces are being provided.

If you look at our nearest High Street I would say that extortionate car parking fees and difficult one way systems don't help. In the most convenient car park it's £10 if you go over 2 hours.

I don't think this is Covid related in the main, Debenhams lost their way many years ago. A bit like M &S they didn't know what customer groups they were aiming for. Latterly many of their shops resembled jumble sales and the staff appeared to have lost interest. I suppose there were pockets of excellence but few and far between. Sadly the day of the department store seems to have gone.

I used to buy Debenhams online, wonder if they will still have that ?

Boohoo sell a lot of cheap tat, it’s fast fashion aimed at the young. I’m looking at more sustainable shopping these days.

I hope it is repurposed as housing or SOMETHING it is depressing

Boohoo has bought the Debenhams name but not the stores.

The shops will not reopen under the Debenhams name but could possibly be bought by another company. However, running high street shops, particularly those as large as Debenhams, is an extremely costly business.

I wonder if they will be transformed into housing...?

This is partly our fault as we have taken to online shopping in a major way....

there will be nothing left in my nearest big town and there doesn't seem to be any plans 'moving forward' either. An independent department store closed, BHS has gone, then M&S, then next, now Debenhams

Most of the big old shops have gone now. I shudder to think what they'll be replaced with but things won't be the same again.
I was devastated when Lewis's closed, then Beattie's with the rest of the decent shops following.

It rather looks as though they will have the younger market in their sights.

Don’t forget Boohoo’s links with Leicester sweatshops

Boohoo are high fashion week aimed at the younger market. Maybe they are looking to diversify?

Knickers?!

DH is bereft. Where will he get his knickers and socks now he asks?

I've never heard of Boohoo

What a pity, but must say that some Debenhams stores seemed to have lost their way a few years ago and were untidy, messy and not an appealing place to shop.

I find Debenhams very good and am sorry they are closing. It is terrible news for all the staff.

Even though I am capable of shopping online, I do like to go into shops. It is a trip out and you often bump into someone you know - I realise, with Covid, things are different but I am talking in general terms.