Argos confirms its Cleveleys store has permanently closed

The retailer has confirmed that its store in Victoria Road West is one of 120 standalone stores to close permanently, after they were initially shut due to the lockdown earlier in the year.

The retailer said a further 300 branch closures will follow over the next three-and-a-half years, with its remaining stores to be located solely within Sainsbury's supermarkets.

The closures are part of cost-cutting measures taken by parent company Sainsbury's, with the supermarket giant expecting to save around £60 million as a result.

The Cleveleys store had remained shut since the first national lockdown in March, despite the Government allowing non-essential retail to reopen in May.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Any standalone Argos store which has not reopened since March will remain closed permanently.

"We have shared plans to open 350 more Argos stores in Sainsbury’s and Argos collection points in supermarkets and convenience stores by March 2024.

"As a result of this, we will no longer need as many Argos standalone stores and so we have said that we will close around 420 branches, bringing the UK Argos standalone store estate to around 100 by March 2024.

"120 Argos standalone stores have not reopened since we closed them back in March and these will remain closed permanently as a result of this update.

"While these stores have remained closed, many Argos colleagues have redeployed to help in other Argos stores and Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

"They will continue to do this during the consultation process and we will do everything possible to find them alternative roles within the business by the time this concludes in the New Year."

The spokesman added: "Customers can find their nearest open store by visiting the Store Locator page on our website.

"We will keep our customers and colleagues updated on our plans."

In September, Sainsbury's, which took over the Argos brand in 2016, said the store on Victoria Road West remained "temporarily closed", as consultation continued on which stores faced permanent closure.

"Our store on Victoria Road West remains closed, but we have not said the store will close permanently", said an Argos spokesman.

But following the consultation process, Argos said staff at its Cleveleys store had been offered roles at other local stores, including its branch inside Sainsbury's in Red Bank Road.

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