'Wolverhampton has already lost so much from its high street - we need M&S!' Shopper's campaign to save flagship store

Mum-of-one Davina Abbott, aged 39, from Penn, has started the petition following the announcement the nearly 100-year-old store in Dudley Street is to close in September.

She said: “I, along with many local residents, am heartbroken to hear that Marks and Spencer is planning to close its Wolverhampton store. 

“I’ve started a petition to try to save it, or at the very least, encourage M&S to consider relocating to somewhere more viable, like St John’s Retail Park, rather than leaving the city completely.

“Wolverhampton has already lost so much from its high street over the years. There’s very little left now that gives people a reason to come into the city, and M&S has always been one of the few places we could rely on for quality, trust, and a bit of pride. Losing it would be a massive blow, not just in terms of jobs and footfall, but for the older residents and loyal shoppers who depend on it.

“I think with enough local support, we could send a clear message to Marks and Spencer that Wolverhampton still values and needs them.”

Davina, an educator in radiography who moved to Wolverhampton from Bristol with her family five years ago, described the store as one of the "last remaining bastions of quality and variety in Wolverhampton's retail landscape" - saying it serves as an anchor in the city centre and "contributes to the vibrant life of Wolverhampton".

She added: "The solution isn't to close down the store; it is to relocate it to a more sustainable location within the city where it can continue to thrive. By doing so, we can preserve the economic vitality and the social importance the store brings to our local area.

"There are other locations within Wolverhampton that could serve as a new home for Marks and Spencer, ensuring the store remains accessible to the community while potentially bringing new life to another part of the city. This move could benefit all parties involved - Marks and Spencer can maintain its presence, and Wolverhampton can retain an essential part of its high street.

"It is imperative for the powers that be to consider this option rather than opting for closure. Wolverhampton deserves to keep its Marks and Spencer store for the sake of its identity, economy, and community spirit."

The flagship city centre store, which has been serving shoppers since 1929, is set to close its doors for good on Saturday, September 27.

Staff have been informed and M&S has said it wants to find a suitable alternative city location to open a new dedicated food store.

Earlier this summer company chairman Archie Norman said the retailer was looking to exit "struggling town centres" as part of a £500 million plan to update its store portfolio across the country. This followed plans announced in 2022 to reduce the number of traditional M&S department stores, offering a complete range of clothing, food and home products from 247 to 180, and to open 100 new food halls by April 2026.

Wolverhampton Council has said it has been working with M&S to try to find a suitable location for a new food hall in the city "to fit their new business model".

It has also confirmed it wants to see "the privately-owned Dudley Street site brought back into use quickly".

Anyone wishing to sign Davina's petition to pledge their support to keep an M&S department store in Wolverhampton can do so here: Save Marks & Spencer in Wolverhampton – Relocate, Don’t Close.