Debenhams: MPs urge bosses to keep Wolverhampton store open
Debenhams has been urged to ensure its flagship Wolverhampton store stays open after the high street giant entered administration.
The department store chain's new owners plan to shut down more than 50 stores, putting around 4,000 jobs at risk.
It is unknown if the Wolverhampton store, which opened to great fanfare in October 2017, will form part of these closures.
However MPs have called on the owners, a consortium led by hedge funds Silver Point Capital and GoldenTree, to keep the city store open.
Both Eleanor Smith and Emma Reynolds have said they would be contacting the store's bosses to seek assurances it would stay open.
Ms Smith, the MP for Wolverhampton South West, said: "I am very concerned that Debenhams, the anchor store in the Mander Centre, has gone into administration.
"I hope the key Wolverhampton branch is part of the chain’s future plans and am contacting the company to learn more."
Ms Reynolds, the MP for Wolverhampton North East, added: "I am very concerned about the news that Debenhams has gone into administration. I hope that the popular Wolverhampton store will remain open and I am seeking clarification from the company about its plans.”
The Mander Centre store employs around 150 staff across its 93,000 sq ft space. As part of the new type of Debenhams, the store features larger changing rooms with three mirror-side lighting options - work, outdoors and dinner. The own-brand Debenhams restaurant was also scrapped in favour of a Loaf and Bloom restaurant.
Councillor Roger Lawrence, the leader of Wolverhampton Council, has told the Express & Star he is "optimistic" over the future of the store due to the fact it was specially designed to fit the new Debenhams model.
He said: "Obviously I think everyone is concerned when there is the threat of store closures but this is their latest investment and the store has been purpose built to suit them, rather than being an old over-sized one.
"One would hope with this in mind that it would form part of their strategy going forward. I am optimistic about the fact that this is a top of the range store."
He added: "I have not spoken with them but Wolverhampton Council is happy to do so."
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley had made a £150 million offer for Debenhams before it entered administration, but this was rejected.
Mr Ashley, who was born in Walsall, has called for the process to be reversed, describing it as a "national scandal".
