Fresh blow as jeweller H Samuel closes store in Wolverhampton shopping centre
A jewellery firm has become the latest big-name retailer to close a shop in Wolverhampton.
H Samuel, based in the city's Wulfrun Centre, has closed its doors following a review of the company's portfolio by bosses.
The company still has another branch in the adjacent Mander Centre as well as one in Park Street, Walsall.
The closure of the store is the latest blow for the city centre and also for the Wulfrun Centre, which lost TK Maxx last year when the clothing and accessories chain moved to Bentley Bridge in Wednesfield.
H Samuel is part of the Signet group. PR executive for Signet, Charlotte Waring, said: "We continually re-assess our portfolio of stores on a store-by-store basis, particularly when individual store leases come up for renewal. This particular closure bears no reflection upon the future plans of the Signet business estate overall within the UK.
"We are sorry to be leaving the Wulfrun Centre in Wolverhampton. However, we do have two alternative H Samuel stores nearby."
Meanwhile, positive news was revealed for Smethwick as Iceland announced it could open a branch, creating 35 new jobs.
The frozen food giant has applied to Sandwell Council to open a shop at the Windmills Shopping Centre in Cape Hill.
It is thought the company plans to take over the unit currently used by clothing shop Peacocks, which stands just yards away from an Asda supermarket.
The store will employ 30 part-time staff and five full-time, and be open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, from 8am to 7pm on a Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on a Sunday.
The Flintshire-based company has applied to build a new shop front at the store, and install an air conditioning unit at the rear.
It is the latest store to show an interest in moving to Sandwell.
In October, Poundland opened a shop in Bearwood creating 19 new jobs, while in November 99p Stores opened a shop in Walsall Road, Great Barr, creating 30 jobs.
But a spokesman for Iceland Foods said that despite the planning application they could neither confirm or deny that they were planning to open up a store in Smethwick.
