Shops are starting to shut

[Twospaniels]

My daughter works in TKMaxx and they are closing UK wide after today for “the foreseeable future”

Also heard that Clarke’s are closing.

Daughter is salaried luckily and will get paid as normal for now, but who knows what the future holds?

All the foodstuffs from TKMaxx and Homesense are being donated to charities and foodbanks.

I went into John Lewis today to snap up some marmalade vodka whilst I can, it was pretty dead even for a Thursday afternoon and the cafe was closed.

Reckon they will not stay open much longer with all the overheads and staff costs if they are getting no footfall

I work in a shop (non essential) we aren't closed and it's very much business as usual. I have asthma and my anxiety is through the roof about going into work

Apparently Charing Cross TKMaxx usually take around £75000 on a weekday but yesterday too £6000

They can’t possibly stay open on those figures

IKEA closing nationwide tomorrow.

Selfridges in the Bullring in Birmingham closed earlier in the week.

I'm in Newcastle and Fenwick has closed from 6pm this evening. It was strange going into town yesterday (essential and unavoidable) and seeing the big chains closed, but Fenwick closing seems more personal somehow. It's such a symbol of the city.

Me and DH's favourite bar closed on Tuesday. It's a small, insignificant thing but it's sad to think we won't be doing our Saturday shopping and nipping in for a beer for, quite possibly, a very long time. When we do we'll never again take it for granted - we'll not take anything for granted again.

Debenhams has reduced opening hours, free delivery for online orders and extended returns period.

Lots of restaurants closing today or tomorrow for the foreseeable future...

I assume most non food retail companies will close stores? Hardly anyone will be buying new clothes / shoes / accessories / luxuries and those who will can do so online.

I reckon place like The Works, Poundland and even possibly Argos will do well why people snaffle stuff to keep the kids entertained (my local Poundland has a good stationary / craft section)

But we'll soon be down to food and pharmacies only!!

River Island are closing too.

I agree, many will.

Liberty in London is closing and I've heard Zara will be and Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters too

@covetingthepreciousthings the advice is very clear - as an asthmatic you should not be going into work right now.

How long does everyone think these shops will be closed for? Other countries seem to be coming through the worst of it after 6-8 weeks?

@Aveino Italy have just extended their lockdown into April.

When all this started to get serious here, about a week or so ago, people were talking in terms of things being cancelled until the end of March. Now we have events in June and July being cancelled. Who knows when things will be able to start getting back to normal.

My local council run leisure centre is still fully open. Public swimming - open. Gym - open. Group exercise classes - open.

I don't understand why. I assume it's because they can continue taking gym membership fees while open. Very irresponsible though.

Our John Lewis has redirected staff to man the tills of Waitrose, which seems like a very sensible approach considering how their stock is flying out of the store faster than they can fill the shelves.

Are all these shops still selling online? I want to get a few bits and bobs but am a bit nervous to order.

Can only go by my town and what I heard today but the following are either shut or shutting tomorrow
Scope
Ryman
TK Maxx

@QuimJongUn I'm the same! Walked past Fenwick and just felt awful. Most of my friends still work in the hospitality sector in Newcastle and they are all absolutely beside themselves!

@covetingthepreciousthings the advice is very clear - as an asthmatic you should not be going into work right now.

@Aveino I know but what can you do when you have highlighted this to work and they haven't got back to you whether you should be there or not, and it's such a small small team you are being guilt tripped into staying? Yet I keep seeing other employers have sent their staff straight home.

@FATEdestiny I was just in the gym and it was almost empty, spotlessly clean, enforcing very strict distancing between members (half the machines are taped up to enforce distance, but unnecessary as there was basically no one there). It was far cleaner and safer than walking around the street and going to the shops, which are really crowded and full of people pressed up against each other.

Selfridges has closed all its stores.

Only food shops, petrol shops, take aways offering delivery only and pharmacies should be open, really. People are still going out and about while there are places to visit.

Where are you getting all of this information from?

Clarkes was closed when I was in town today. Costa and McDonalds takeaway only. Lego store closed. Heard a rumour that Bluewater is closing shortly.