A POPULAR town centre store could close its doors for the final time within weeks.

‘Closing down’ signs appeared in the windows of House of Fraser, in Middlesbrough, earlier this month, with many shoppers lamenting a worrying trend of big-name high street retailers closing.

There is currently a 20 per cent off closing down sale ongoing at the former Binns store on Linthorpe Road.

It is believed the store could close as early as July 14. 

House of Fraser was bought by former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley in 2018 after the retailer entered administration, who ensured its stores around the UK survived.

But stores have slowly begun to close since the coronavirus pandemic, with the former Metrocentre store also another casualty in the North East.

Read more: House of Fraser worker clocks off after 34 years

Middlesbrough Council took over Captain Cook Square and the House of Fraser building in 2020 and followed it up with the purchase of the Cleveland Centre last year.

Historically, the town centre has been over-reliant on retail but the authority's aim is to rebalance the economy by bringing more businesses and attract thousands more people to come and live in the centre.

The authority is spearheading multi-million-pound plans to bring a host of leisure and entertainment venues to the outdoor shopping centre

Opening this summer will be two brand new, large-scale entertainment venues - Level X, a bowling alley and go-karting venue and The Wired Lobby, an esports and gaming arena, which have taken over the former TJ Hughes and Peacocks stores respectively.

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