A SUPERMARKET giant has confirmed it will wave goodbye to a major store after making the "difficult decision" to close it for good.
Tesco Express in the Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland will permanently shut next month after trading in the prime city centre spot for decades.
The store, which is near Primark and popular with residents, students and visitors, had been rumoured to close since the start of the year.
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Now, in a statement to The Northern Echo, the supermarket confirmed the closure and said it is now "supporting" the workers affected.
It said it remained committed to the area and was now on the hunt for a potential site to reopen an "express" store elsewhere in the city centre.
Once shut, customers wanting to shop at Tesco will have to travel some two miles to its "Extra" store which is located over the Wearmouth Bridge on Newcastle Road.
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A Tesco spokesperson said: “We have taken the difficult decision to close our Sunderland Express store on The Bridges.
"Our priority now is to support our colleagues that are affected, and wherever possible we will offer them alternative jobs within Tesco.”
“We serve a fantastic community in Sunderland and remain committed to the town. We are looking for potential sites for a new Express store in the area.”
The closure comes as Poundland last week confirmed the permanent closure of its discount store in Chester-le-Street.
At the time, the retailer said the closure had coincided with the expiration of its lease on the Front Street.
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