Express & Star comment: Questions over future of Beatties
Fears that Wolverhampton city centre could lose its iconic Beatties department store are hardening after owners House of Fraser confirmed that they are to close some of their 59 sites in the UK.
A decision on which of its stores are to shut is expected soon and closures could take effect from as early as this summer.
Shoppers who have visited Beatties in recent weeks have expressed concern at the way its stock seems to be dwindling.
Realistically it must be a potential closure target for the company – which has been hit by falling sales across the country.
Stores that are underperforming are likely to be at the top of the list.
The Express & Star has warned before that shoppers need to use Beatties or risk losing it.
It would be a devastating blow to the retail heart of Wolverhampton if it was to disappear and Wolverhampton council, which is in the midst of a major regeneration programme for the city centre, needs to get involved early to use its influence on House of Fraser to make the strong case possible for our beloved department store to be retained.
A Debenhams opened in the Mander Centre last year.
But a city the size of Wolverhampton should be able to support a range of big stores.
House of Fraser must be persuaded that Beatties, which has had a well deserved reputation for selling goods of the highest quality, has a genuine successful future in the city and will also need to be reminded of the real historical significance to the city of the Victoria Street shop which first opened its doors 131 years ago and has been used by generations.
Sadly, in recent years it has steadily seen the loss or scaling down of departments which have added to the worries over its long-term survival and the jobs of the loyal staff in Wolverhampton.
House of Fraser’s woes are the latest chapter in a nightmare year for the high street, with thousands of jobs lost already as giants like Toys R Us have also closed stores.
We can only hope Beatties does not join the list of casualties.
