WH Smith to shut Wolverhampton Mander Centre branch shedding 20 jobs
WH Smith is to close its main Wolverhampton branch with the loss of 20 jobs, it was announced today.
Bosses said they could not continue to 'trade viably' from the Mander Centre and will shut the store when the lease runs out in July.
The announcement comes after the company closed another of its outlets at Wolverhampton's £22.5 million bus station, but it still has branches at the railway station and at New Cross Hospital.
The Mander Centre branch employs 20 people. Bosses said they would try to look at redeploying staff to other stores where possible.
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The firm is the latest in a number of big names to pull out of the city in recent years including TK Maxx, Dorothy Perkins and Oasis.
Shoppers and city leaders have expressed their sadness at the news.
Wolverhampton Council deputy leader and regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson said: "It is disappointing. My experience is that it was a very well used and popular shop."
WH Smith spokeswoman Nicola Hillman said: "We can confirm that the WH Smith store in Wolverhampton's Mander Centre will close in July. Unfortunately we are unable to continue to trade viably from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store at this time because of the forthcoming lease expiry."
Shoppers today called for rents to be cut to encourage more firms to move into the city centre. They also said parking charges were putting people off from shopping in the citty centre.
The announcement comes just weeks after it was revealed 10 staff lost their jobs with the closure of the CD and DVD shop That's Entertainment, which also decided against negotiating a new lease in the adjourning Wulfrun Centre.
Earlier this year the jewellers H Samuel also pulled out of the Wulfrun Centre.
Shock at loss of a shopping icon - See today's City Final Express & Star
