All hope not lost on high street yet
Luton’s high street is taking a hit as the closure of camera retailer Jessops on Friday was followed by music store HMV going into administration on Monday.
Six full- and part-time jobs were lost at the Luton branch of Jessops in The Mall and more are at risk in the HMV store.
Customers with giftcards for HMV, many of which were received as Christmas presents, were told they could not spend them.
Jessops customers are also struggling as administrators PwC said shoppers will not receive purchases they have paid for, photo orders cannot be guaranteed and gift card and vouchers cannot be honoured.
The Mall manager Mark Broadhead said the Jessops shop unit remains with Jessops’ administrators.
Deloitte LLP were appointed as administrators for HMV and plan to keep the 250 stores across the country open while seeking a buyer for the 91-year-old business.
There was some positive news for other stores in The Mall as pre-Christmas trading figures were released on Monday.
Mr Broadhead said: “For December we had a like-for-like growth on last year – 2.38 per cent growth compared to last year’s growth of 1.5 per cent. That’s very good indeed.”
The Mall will get a shake-up in February as Sports Direct relocates to the old JJB store above Tesco, and is replaced by clothing store USC which was bought by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley in 2011.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Luton
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North
