Bonmarche Announces Closure of Warrington Store at Birchwood Shopping Centre
A prominent UK fashion retailer with approximately 380 stores across Britain has confirmed the imminent closure of one of its popular branches. Bonmarche, which operates multiple locations in the West Midlands, will be shutting its doors at the Birchwood Shopping Centre in Warrington, Cheshire next month.
The store, which originally opened in the town in 2023, is scheduled to cease operations on March 25, 2026. This decision comes after the brand was unable to reach an agreement on new lease terms with the shopping centre's management, as reported by The Sun.
Shopping Centre Expresses Disappointment Over Departure
Birchwood Shopping Centre shared a statement on social media expressing regret over Bonmarche's departure. The statement read: “Sadly, Bonmarche have decided to leave us. We tried our hardest to keep them but to no avail and we will all be extremely sad to see them go.”
Accompanying the announcement was an image of a closing down sale sign, which indicated that discounts apply exclusively to “this store only.” This has prompted local customers to take advantage of final sales before the closure.
Customer Reactions and Brand History
On Facebook, a customer commented: “Gutted, it’s a lovely shop, got lots from there and the staff are so lovely, feel sorry for them, going to miss it.” This sentiment reflects the community's attachment to the store, which has been a fixture in the shopping centre for nearly three years.
Bonmarche has a rich history dating back to its founding by businessman Parkash Singh Chima in 1982. Chima, who immigrated to Britain from Punjab in 1950 and settled in Cambridgeshire, initially built a business selling clothing door-to-door. In 1982, he acquired two clothing firms, Wiltex and Hartley, which owned 26 indoor markets across northern England.
The first official Bonmarche store opened in Doncaster in 1985, marking the beginning of an expansion that grew to over 300 stores. Since April 2019, the company has been owned by The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, continuing its presence as a key player in the UK fashion retail sector.
This closure highlights ongoing challenges in the retail industry, particularly for high street brands navigating lease agreements and market dynamics. While Bonmarche maintains a strong network of stores nationwide, the Warrington branch's shutdown underscores the localized impacts of such business decisions on communities and shopping centres.
