House of Fraser, now owned by Sports Direct, has made the difficult decision to close three of its department stores as part of its post-administration recovery plan. The Hull and Swindon branches, along with the Frasers store in Edinburgh, are the locations that will be affected by these closures.
This move comes as a surprise, as the original plan had outlined the closure of 31 stores with only 29 remaining open. However, with the leadership of Mike Ashley, who is dedicated to maintaining a strong physical presence for House of Fraser, negotiations with landlords have resulted in better rental terms for the majority of the stores.
While 20 stores, including the flagship store on Oxford Street, have been saved from closure, discussions are ongoing about the possibility of more closures in the future. On the positive side, agreements have been reached to keep stores like Huddersfield, Leeds, Maidstone, Solihull, and Sutton Coldfield operational.
Conversely, stores like Altrincham, Aylesbury, Birkenhead, and more, which were initially on the chopping block, have now been given a lifeline through new agreements. However, the future of the Bath location remains uncertain due to challenges in negotiations with Bath City Council.
Despite these uncertainties, the reopening of the House of Fraser website indicates progress in the company’s overall recovery journey. With a focus on preserving jobs and stores, Sports Direct, led by Mike Ashley, is working diligently to ensure the stability and success of House of Fraser.
For more information on House of Fraser’s recovery efforts, you can visit their official website here. Additionally, to stay updated on the latest news related to House of Fraser’s restructuring process, you can follow their official social media accounts.
