SHOPS across Wyre Forest will be allowed to welcome customers back for the first time next week - but for some stores, the coronavirus lockdown has seen their doors close for good.
There's no denying the high street has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis - while supermarkets have seen a boost in profits, many major retailers have been forced into administration.
Among those to close their doors in Kidderminster is Debenham's in Weaver's Wharf.
The department store announced in April it would not be reopening after lockdown as bosses were unable to agree terms with the site landlord.
Fears of closure have clouded the store for years and the firm fell into administration earlier this year.
In October 2018, bosses announced plans to axe up to 50 of its high street shops, putting 4,000 jobs at risk.
A Debenhams spokesman said: “Sadly we have been unable to agree terms with the landlord in Kidderminster and as a result this store will not be reopening when government restrictions are lifted.
"We greatly regret the effect on our colleagues, who have served our customers in Kidderminster with commitment and dedication."
Debenhams isn't the only big name to be lost at the shopping park - Frankie & Benny's announced in April its Weaver's Wharf restaurant had been deemed "not financially viable".
The Restaurant Group made the decision to close down the branch after placing staff at the Kidderminster site on furlough under the Government coronavirus scheme, meaning it will not reopen when lockdown restrictions are lifted.
In February, the Group announced plans to close up to 90 restaurants by 2021, citing challenges facing our leisure business and the wider casual dining sector.
The Kidderminster branch survived a cull of 33 "under performing" Frankie & Benny's restaurants in 2016.
Announcing its permanent closure, a spokesman for The Restaurant Group said: "The trading environment for a number of our restaurant brands has been challenging over recent years, with the broader casual dining market impacted by chronic overcapacity, declining retail footfall, changing customer preferences and rising costs.
"In light of this backdrop, we continue to take a disciplined approach to our estate and, in some cases, it is necessary to take the difficult decision to close sites that are not financially viable.
"As a result, we have taken the decision to permanently close the Frankie & Benny’s site in Kidderminster.
"Our team at the Kidderminster restaurant are currently on furlough pay and once there is further clarity from the current crisis, we will endeavour to explore all options to redeploy staff to other sites in our portfolio."
H. Samuel jewellers has also announced plans to permanently close its Kidderminster store this month.
The jewellery chain said the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the business to accelerate a previous strategy to close some of its stores, meaning local shoppers will have to travel to Worcester to visit their nearest store.
A spokesman told The Shuttle: "Amid this challenging pandemic and fluid business conditions, we have accelerated a previous strategy to close some stores permanently, starting this month.
"We are of course contacting our H. Samuel customers in order to connect them with any orders or repairs that maybe outstanding from the store."
The store would not confirm how many jobs will be lost as a result of the closure.
Non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen on June 15 as part of the government's three-stage plan to ease lockdown measures.
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