Shoppers tell of anger as major retailer House of Fraser announces Doncaster closure

House of Fraser’s store in the town centre will close next month, and posters were today being displayed in the window confirming the closure.

No comment has been made on the move by House of Fraser, which nearly closed in 2018.

But shoppers on the street were concerned about the closure of the department store on Baxtergate, and what they saw as another blow to the retail core of the town centre.

A sign in the window stated simply: “House of Fraser. This store will be closing in February 2020.”

Dorothy Causier was on a shopping trip to the town centre from her home in Arksey when she saw the notices in the window.

She said: “I think it’s disgusting. Everything seems to be closing down, and House of Fraser is a decent shop.

“We used to have people come on coach trips into Doncaster to do their shopping taking in the market. This is such a shame.

Carolyun Leigh had also travelled into the town centre from Arksey. She said: “It feels like all we’ve got is cheap shops and cafes. I’m disappointed to see House of Fraser close, and not everyone shops on the internet. I fear that if there are no decent shops here, no one will come into town.”

Sylvia Cole, from Arksey, was also saddened by the closure plans.

She said: “Some of the youngters may shop on line now, but the older ones like me don’t. There’s gong to be nowhere to shop in Doncaster. Top Shop in the Frenchgate is closing too.

“The way we’re going its going to end up more pubs and less shops, with people like me frightened to come into the town centre.”

Brenda Brough, of Highfield, said she had shopped at House of Fraser in the town centre for many years.

She said: “It’s been a big shop in Doncaster. It's going to be a big loss. Closures just seem to be getting worse and worse.”

The Doncaster branch became a House of Fraser discount outlet store in 2008 after trading as department store Binns for several decades.