Express & Star

Foot Locker closes Wolverhampton store in latest high street blow

Foot Locker has become the latest big name store to pull out of Wolverhampton.

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Wolverhampton's Foot Locker store is one of 165 across the world to shut down

The city’s Dudley Street shop is one of 165 of the trainer giant’s stores worldwide to shut, despite turnover rising to a record of almost €7 billion (£6.3bn) in 2018.

It follows the news Starbucks will close next month, while Debenhams in the Mander Centre will cease trading next year.

Foot Locker has announced it will close 165 stores this year, but said it would invest millions in the modernisation of the remaining stores.

Dudley Street, like the Wulfrun Centre, is plagued by empty stores.

The former BHS building remains empty and boarded up having shut its doors in 2016, although plans were unveiled last year to transform it into two shops.

The EE mobile phone shop has also gone and remains empty, while the Green + Benz jewellery shop, eat4less and Patisserie Valerie are all vacant having shut down over the past year.

Foot Locker’s other two Black Country stores, in Walsall and Dudley’s Merry Hill centre, are to remain open.

Last year the US firm’s turnover went up by two per cent to 7 billion euros – the highest turnover figure the company has ever posted.

Latest blow for Wolverhampton

"Yet another nail in Wolverhampton's coffin."

That's how people have reacted to the news of Starbucks' closure on August 11 - the latest in a line of high street chains to pull out of Wolverhampton.

Store workers posted on Facebook to tell customers of the closure, while it's not yet known if staff will keep their jobs and be moved to other stores.

Express & Star readers on Facebook have labelled the latest victim of the high street as a "joke" as more shops close their shutters for good.

Rob Bailey said: "Wolverhampton is becoming a joke of a city now, shops closing daily, soon there will be nothing left."

Kirsten Reynolds said: "If Starbucks cannot make it work how does a little business stand a chance.

"I am not a fan of Starbucks but nobody likes to see the loss of a business or jobs."

Rob Jones added: "Yet another nail in Wolverhampton's coffin.

Wolverhampton's Starbucks is closing its door next month

"The trouble is Wolverhampton wants to be a city but unfortunately in reality it's just a town."

Sarah Fitzsimmons said: "Gutted, I don't drink alcohol or go the pub, but I did enjoy a frothy coffee instead and this was my go to place.

"Such a shame, soon wont be anything to go to town for."

Now, another big name store has announced it has fallen victim to falling high street sales as Foot Locker on Dudley Street is closing.

Sitting opposite the closing Starbucks store, it is one of 165 Foot Locker shops closing worldwide.

It aims to save cash and invest in the chain's remaining stores.

A the latest victims of the high street, this comes after the news that Debenhams in the Mander Centre will also be closing, after becoming the centrepiece of the site's £35 million revamp two years ago.

It joins a host of empty buildings in the city, including the EE mobile phone shop, eat4less and Patisserie Valerie.