A prominent former department store building in a Suffolk town has been formally put up for sale, nearly seven years after it shut its doors to the public.
A Prime Location Back on the Market
The vacant Beales store in Lowestoft is now being offered for sale on a freehold basis, with an asking price of £895,000. The property is being marketed by agents Whybrow & Dodds Ltd, based in Colchester.
The large building has been empty since April 2019, when the Beales branch closed permanently. In May 2024, East Suffolk Council confirmed proposals to redevelop the site into five new retail units and 45 flats. However, no physical work on this planned transformation has ever commenced.
The sales description highlights the property's prominent position on the junction with Regent Street, in a mixed commercial and residential area. It notes proximity to major retailers including British Heart Foundation, Sports Direct, and Clarks. The brick-built property offers extensive sales and ancillary space over ground and first floor levels, with parking at both the front and rear.
The Decline of the Beales Chain
Beales was originally founded in Bournemouth in 1881 but fell into administration in 2020. At that time, the retailer shut all 23 of its shops nationwide.
The brand later managed to reopen three branches in Poole, Peterborough, and Southport. However, this revival was short-lived. The Peterborough store closed in early 2023, followed by the Southport branch in September 2024. Beales closed its final store, located in Poole's Dolphin Centre, in May 2025, marking the end of the historic chain.
Broader High Street Challenges
The sale of the Beales building coincides with continued turbulence on the British high street. Fashion retailer River Island has recently confirmed the exact closure dates for 27 of its stores in late January.
This follows a major restructure approved by the High Court, which initially involved 33 store closures. Branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees shut in the final months of 2025. River Island is also reducing rents at a further 71 shops as part of its rescue plan.
The future of the substantial Beales building in Lowestoft now rests with a new buyer, who will determine whether the council's earlier vision for flats and shops will finally be realised, or if an entirely new use for the site will emerge.
