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?

@Add message | Report | Message poster FATEdestiny

Can I suggest that you complain to management -HQ management not on site manager- that they are being irresponsible to them, plus publicly somewhere like social media. As someone who is being forced to continue working in an open leisure centre environment the staff will appreciate it. We will be sacked or disciplined if we do not come in but do not want to be there or open and feel very unsafe and unprotected.

Can they freeze rent for shops so they can all afford to reopen once this is over?

Business rates have been suspended, which will be a huge help and I think institutional Landlords will offer rent holidays or other similar concessions. Some landlords will more than likely benefit from loss of rent insurance so hopefully this can be passed down to the tenants.

The main issue is service charges that cover costs like security or cleaning (which will still be needed for centres with essential retailers that stay open). If retailers don't pay them, centre staff won't get paid.

Our leisure centre shut today but im expected to go in and do other jobs such as cleaning, dont think il get my normal teaching rate but it's still something. I'm just hoping I dam rearrange my hours due to the kids being off school and my parents being vulnerable.

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? Which countries would those be?

From what I've heard Cineworld has closed all cinemas and laid off staff. They're planning on hiring new staff when this is over.

So sad to see all this.

No one in my town seems to think anything is going to change at all.

Fenwick in Newcastle shut?! 😱😱.

Not sure if I’ve missed seeing it mentioned but all Odeon cinemas are closed.

@IamAporcupine Vicolo. Tyneside Cinema has also closed but their cafe bar is open but they've reduced the hours. Me and DH like to sit outside Vicolo in the summer. I really, really hope that we'll be able to in a few months.

I'm worried sick, I have asthma and take chest infections at the drop of a hat and I'm absolutely floored.

My work are sending select groups of people home but not anyone with Asthma as there's too many of us 🙄

@QuimJongUn ah I know a couple of people from Stack. Sorry to hear about that.
I work just off Northumberland street and have to visit the site a couple of times over the next few weeks. I'm dreading walking through town. I think it'll really hit home then.
I used to work in some of the city centre hotels and have just been speaking to one of the managers who told me she broke down during the manager's meeting where they were told to basically let everyone go.

The staff at Fenwick are still being paid for the time being. All either working reduced hours or not at all. I think they said the offices would be open for a handful of people but doors to the customers are closed for now.

I wonder how many will never re-open? 😢

I don't get the shock here at Fenwick closing. If they have to shut every school in the country what's the shock at having to shut an overpriced dept store???

I don’t either I’ve never seen it as particularly special or interesting

I know it's just a shop. Crap for the workers but hopefully they will get paid.

I would expect most clothes shops to shut, people don’t need fancy new clothes to sit in their front rooms, I imagine places like M&S will still be open as they do food and you can get essential clothing from there if you don’t shop online

I used to work at Fenwick, and wonder how many of the staff will be paid as their are so many concessions throughout the store.

Would hope the staff employed directly by Fenwick, admin/counting house etc. will be paid.

The town will indeed be very quiet

I work in bluewater and lots of shops are already shut or on reduced hours but as of end of day Wednesday, bluewater management were not looking to close soon unless told otherwise by the government.

I think it's more that Fenwick is such a part of the fabric of Newcastle. Even if you don't shop there you probably take the DC to see the Christmas window. Big multi nationals like Apple and Hollister closing are decisions taken elsewhere, probably thousands of miles away. Fenwick closing is a decision made just up the road. I'm not arsed that I won't be shopping there for a bit (the food hall is nowhere near as good as it used to be but I do love their cakes and off licence bit) - it's just another reminder of how desperate the whole situation is.

@Biancadelrioisback talking of hotels, DH and I had our wedding reception at The Royal Station hotel. I hope it survives this. It really is another symbol of Newcastle. I hope all the hotels and shops can survive for the sake of their staff, although I know that a lot of them won't.

@Feelingfestivenow they are. My friend works in the marketing department and they're still getting paid but are on reduced hours for now. For the concessions, it depends on the individual companies

From tonight all bars, restaurants, pubs and gyms will also be closed. Everywhere will be like ghost towns. We will be buying goods like our loo rolls and baby food, tinned and dried foods on 'the black market' before long...or on street corners looking like we're buying 'drugs'. Unless they introduce ration books or food vouchers which will make it easier on everyone and put a stop to all those who are stock piling. Also just a thought but some of the shops will have to re open before September when kids are expected to go back. Otherwise how will parents get their kids uniforms and school equipment. Has anyone even thought that far ahead yet??

shops aren't closing though

god,'m sure no school uniform is at the bottom of the list!