A HIGH street retailer with 500 branches is to close a popular bargain store in a blow to shoppers.
Locals said “that's such a shame” after hearing news that the fashion and homeware .
will shut its outlet store in Darlington Retail Park in May.
The budget store had operated from the retail park since 2021.
Responding to news of the closure on one shopper said: “Aw noooo I love getting the girls clothes from here.”
A second added: “Such a shame.”
But, others suggested the store had been difficult to navigate.
One said: “Sometimes I could go in and see loads, other times it was rubbish, very hit and miss.”
Another added: “I find it quite like a jumble sale unfortunately.”
An employee at the outlet store confirmed it is due to close in May and Flying Eze has contacted Next for further comment.
Next also has a standard format store in at the Cornmill centre, which remains open.
The brand had warned of potential store closures last year after .
Then in January the retailer told following the chancellor's hike to employer National Insurance Contributions, which it estimated would add £67million to its cost base.
Darlington Retail Park has already seen the closure of in recent months, with the site remaining empty.
The town has also seen furniture shop Studio Eleven and a cheese and wine retailer close in recent months.
The news follows a dire start to 2025 for the high street with many established retailers announcing closures.
WHSmith is to vanish entirely from town centres following the sale of its high street branches while fashion retailer .
and have also closed multiple sites.
Retailers that had once seemed resilient now appear to be buckling under recent pressures.
They have had to deal with rising inflation and costs, a move to online shopping, and customers having less money to spend amid the cost of living crisis.
Another struggling chain is , whose owner Pepco hired .
It came afterPepco said it was looking at “all strategic options” to separatePoundlandfrom its brand.
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