SHOP DROP
‘We’re devastated’ sob shoppers as Lidl confirms city centre branch will close for good after nearly two decades
The site was 'unfortunately not suitable for redevelopment'
LIDL has confirmed one of its city centre branches is closing for good after trading for nearly two decades.
The discount supermarket says an outlet in Edinburgh will shut up shop and it is now on the lookout for a replacement site.
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Lidl says that due to a surge in popularity and the aging nature of the supermarket on Drum Street, Gilmerton, it is looking to expand into new premises.
Due to the format of the building, which is also attached to an Iceland store, it is “unfortunately not suitable for redevelopment” and it is also coming to the end of its lease.
The store is expected to close in October and the landlord has put the site on the market, Lidl confirmed.
On hearing the news, one fan of the store posted on Facebook that they were "devastated" to learn it was closing down.
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Lidl has said employees will be offered re-employment opportunities elsewhere.
In its search for a new site, the chain asked members of the public for their input in finding a potential location.
Ross Jackson, Lidl’s Head of Property for Scotland, said: "As we continue our search for a new site in Gilmerton we would love the public’s help in identifying locations that might not already be on our radar.
"Whilst we’ll be sad to say goodbye to our Drum Street store, we can’t wait to give Gilmerton a bigger and better Lidl, with even greater access to our high-quality affordable products.
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“In the meantime, shoppers will still be able to access our newer, much larger store on Straiton Way."
Lidl has its eye open for sites in “prominent locations” which have easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow.
I've found a nifty way to get FREE fruit in Lidl - I only have to spend a penny in store, and the offer's on all month
A 1.5 acre site is needed for a standalone store or as much as four acres for a mixed-use scheme.
If a suitable site is found, the supermarket will pay a finders’ fee of either 1.5 per cent of the total freehold purchase price, or 10 per cent of the first years rent for leaseholds.
That would work out at £22,500 for a completed 1.5 acre site purchase.
The news comes after it was revealed in April that Lidl was set to open hundreds of new stores across the UK.
The discount supermarket will soon welcome shoppers to new stores across the country, from Bristol in the West Country, Birmingham in the West Midlands and Berwick in Scotland.
In London alone, where Lidl is now the third largest supermarket, it will be opening new stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton and Canning Town.
Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Here's a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:
- Argos - The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q - The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots - The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer's estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons - Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We've listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee - The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you'll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We've revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland - The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl - The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S - M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It's not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
- Trespass - The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith - The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
Richard Taylor, chief development officer at Lidl GB, said at the time: "We have also been the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row.
"With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we're welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion.
"We're planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential."
It comes just months after the discount supermarket chain said that it was looking for £91million in funding to help fund its expansion.
Lidl is looking for investors to build 12 supermarkets, which they can then lease to the supermarket chain to operate on their behalf.
Currently, only 20 per cent of its roughly 960 UK stores are leasehold.
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In a funding pitch seen by The Sun, Lidl is asking for the new stores to come with a 25-year lease.
These will then be subject to five yearly rent reviews based on open market values.
![A shopper loads a Lidl branded plastic carrier bag into the trunk of his automobile after leaving a Lidl discount supermarket, operated by Lidl Ltd., in the Sydenham district of London, U.K., on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc stepped up the battle for U.K. supermarket customers by becoming the first of Britain’s […]](https://machibet777.site/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shopper-loads-lidl-branded-plastic-474289129.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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