Day of sadness and reflection as Debenhams in Bury St Edmunds welcomes customers for the final time
Shoppers queued in the rain to bid farewell to Debenhams in Bury St Edmunds which closes today.
The struggling department store, in the arc, is disappearing from the high street following a multi-million pound takeover of the brand which excluded its shops.
Debenhams is the arc's flagship store and opened at the launch of the shopping centre 12-years-ago.
Steve Bunce, centre manager, watched as staff opened its doors for the final time.
Mr Bunce, who has managed, designed and built shopping centres for more than two decades, said: "For me it's a time to reflect.
"I opened my first Debenhams store 22-years-ago and since overseen the opening of about five of them so to me it's a very sad and reflective day to see this wonderful brand disappear from the high street and the arc in Bury St Edmunds.
"We're wishing all the staff well - it's obviously been the most difficult time for them and would like to thank them for all their years of hard work."
Among those in the queue was regular customer Irene O'Brien, 62, of Bury St Edmunds.
She said: "It's really sad for the town. My daughter-in-law works here and she's sad - they're all upset about it - but if things aren't going well and it shuts there isn't much people can do.
"I feel bad going in looking for bargains because I know a lot of people working there - it's their livelihood."
Miss O'Brien said she would like to see the store converted into 'lots of little independent shops' similar to the former Cornhill Walk Shopping Centre in the town.
Stella Pettitt, of Fornham St Martin, said she would like to see Primark take on the site.
"I think half of Bury would like a Primark," she said. "If you did a survey I bet that would come out tops."
She added that the loss of Debenhams was 'a shame' and was hoping to catch a bargain on its final day including a school uniform for her great-granddaughter.
Ann Palmer, 65, of Honington, has shopped in the store for the last four or five days for its clearance sale and bought handbags, clothes and shoes.
Today, she was looking for handbag for her mother-in-law but she also wanted to have a browse around one last time before it shut.
Ann Goddard, 79, of Bury St Edmunds, said: "It's terrible - it's going to be a big loss to the town.
"I'm just going in really to have the last day of looking around."
Debenhams collapsed last year after JD Sports pulled out of rescue talks.
In January, the Boohoo Group paid £55 million to acquire the brand out of liquidation but the deal excluded its 118 shops.
By May 15, all Debenhams stores across the country will have closed marking an end to the 242-year-old brand's reign on the high street.
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