"Very disappointing": Ashford laments the loss of a Debenhams branch | Business

TheIn many cities, Ashford, Kent, is trying to reinvent its shopping center. Where once was the cattle market, there is now a huge Picturehouse cinema. A group of abandoned industrial buildings needs to be turned into a food and beverage hall and, of course, a trendy brewery is under construction.

Despite its transformation, stores once considered the pillars of the British main street leave the city. On Friday, Debenhams named 22 of the 50 stores it plans to close as part of its recovery plan. The Ashford branch was among the victims.

This means that the city has suffered a double shock: in January, Marks & Spencer announced that Ashford was one of the 31 cities where she was withdrawing her store. The M & S will close shop next month.

Retired Nurse Devi Thangamuthu, 67, was among the discouraged clientele in the enormous store at Country Square Mall on Friday afternoon. "It will be a shame to lose yet another of our department stores," she said.

Regular customer Sophia Malik, 34, explained that since Debenhams was also closing its stores in Folkestone and Canterbury, she was less likely to shop with the distressed retailer.

Others, such as Susan Woodward, a 58-year-old elementary school badistant who frequently visits the store's restaurant, worry about the impact of the closure on Ashford. "It's sad because we lost BHS. We still have Next, but I think if it continues, will it follow even more?

"These are all hairdressers, cafes and nail bars. People will not come here to shop – they will go to a bigger city like Canterbury. "

She can have a point. Although saddened by the departure of Debenhams and M & S from her beloved city, 61-year-old Sally Wenham said she would instead turn to the city's cathedral for shopping.

Conservative MP Ashford, Damian Green, called the news "very disappointing". On Twitter, he wrote: "We must redouble our efforts to strengthen the city center."

Ashford Borough Council has announced that it will work with the mall owners to try to find new occupants. A spokesman said that the number of shoppers in the city was up: "Attendance in the Ashford High Street in 2019 has increased significantly over last year, and that is Is the same in County Square. " propose to reflect local demands and a changing national market and give residents a reason to visit. "
"It is unfortunate to see Debenhams go, but we have recently seen an increase in attendance. With the new Picturehouse cinema and other developments on the horizon, such as the new Brewery and Coachworks. [a food and drink hall] opening soon, it shows that the city is moving in the right direction. "

Not everyone is worried about the announcement of Debenhams leaving, including his 20-year-old daughter Katie. "I'm against fast fashion, so I try to shop at charity stores. It does not bother me too much, "she said.

For other young people, the department store had little to offer. "I just used the spray on the counters," said Faith Figaro, 17. "I think it's expensive, to be fair."

Paul Johnson, 63, also wears a Sports Direct bag. He also has little compbadion for large companies that are struggling to meet customer demands. "I'm wearing Primarni," he said, pointing out that in addition to shopping on the Internet, cheap alternatives in the shopping streets mean that he rarely visits department stores. "There is room for a Primark now," he joked.