What was once York’s premier shopping street has been dealt a further blow as another major trader moves out.
River Island will close its Coney Street store after trading on Saturday (March 10).
It is the latest of a string of losses for the street. Burgins Perfumery closed last July after 137 years, Curry’s has gone, and no retailer has yet moved in to the former BHS building.
And Italian beauty retailer Kiko Milano, which had planned to open in the old Wallis shop on the street, pulled out in November.
17 jobs affected
Worryingly for the future of Coney Street, a spokeswoman for River Island said the decision to quit York city centre was partially based on the shop’s location.
She told YorkMix:
After careful consideration and review over time we have decided to close Coney Street branch.
With the current market as it is our decision to close this store is due to trading performance and store location.
She did not rule out the company opening up a branch in a different part of York – but not right now.
“Other options were looked in to but currently nothing met our requirements, but would consider relocating if the right space became available in future.”
River Island has traded on Coney Street for more than 20 years. It employs 17 people. Of those, six staff members have accepted jobs in other stores.
The branch in the Monks Cross Shopping Park is unaffected.