End of an era as Doncaster's House of Fraser store finally closes its doors

The store had previously been given a stay of execution, operating as an Outlet Store over the past few years, selling a wide array of items at discounted prices.

But earlier this month, bosses announced the store’s closure – and it comes just weeks after neighbouring Marks and Spencer confirmed it will be closing its city centre store in 2025.

The final day of trading was scheduled to be Friday, with stiock up for grabs in an ‘everything must go’ sale.

Earlier, a spokesperson for Frasers Group commented “It is with regret that we announce House of Fraser Doncaster will be closing in spring.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication.

"Where possible, we are committed to finding new roles within the group for staff.”

In February 2020, the Baxtergate store was due to shut its doors for good but the company gave it a stay of execution, operating as a discount store.

In 2018, the store was one of dozens of House of Fraser outlets earmarked for closure after the firm ran into financial difficulties.

The chain was then taken over by retail magnate Mike Ashley and was given a reprieve with jobs and the store saved.

A number of House of Fraser branches were turned into high-end luxury goods stores called Frasers, including the branch in Sheffield’s Meadowhall.

But Doncaster was not among them.

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

The retail giant started life back in 1849 as a small drapery shop in Glasgow and during the 1970s rapidly expanded, buying drapers across Scotland, Ireland and England as well as other department stores and Army and Navy stores as well as iconic luxury store Harrods in 1959.

The Doncaster branch opened in the mid-70s on the site of the former Owen and Owen store.

The store neighbours the Doncaster city centre branch of Marks and Spencer, which last month confirmed that it would be closing its branch and transferring trade to a newly expanded site on Wheatley Hall Road.