The John Lewis department store in York is to close, it was announced today.
It brings to an end a brief chapter in the city’s retailing history.
November 2011
John Lewis announces plans to open a £15m store on the outskirts of York, creating 300 jobs.
The company said its new store would “plug the gap” for shoppers in the city who would no longer have to travel to its stores in Sheffield and Newcastle.
4 March 2014
With the store at Vangarde Shopping Park nearing completion, journalists are allowed in for the first time.
“This will be the most up-to-date store we have ever done. It’s exciting for me and my team, and the city as well,” said the first manager Robert Garnish.
The 92,000 sq ft store will feature a ground floor to roof skyscraper display featuring an 11 square metres (118 square feet) retro graphic to mark the 150 anniversary of the first John Lewis store opening in Oxford Street, London.
28 March 2014
The fashion brands it will stock are revealed. They include Seasalt, Ted Baker, Wishbone, Whistles, Levis and Jigsaw. And it will stock accessories from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Rotary, Lulu Guinness and Calvin Klein.
8 April 2014
YorkMix and other media are given a sneak peek inside the shop, two days before it opens to the public. It is the first John Lewis store to offer fitted bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms under one roof – and to open with an in-store Hotel Chocolat café.
The most expensive item in store is the 65-inch LED television, at £5,499. The cheapest? Twenty paper doilies for £1.
10 April 2014
The store is declared open, alongside a big M&S and Next. Around 150 shoppers queue to be the first inside York’s John Lewis.
March 2020
Alongside all other non-essential shops, John Lewis is ordered to close due to the Covid pandemic.
June 2020
The Vangarde store reopens – one of 22 to open again. Another 28 will stay closed.
The company said further announcements on reopenings will come in the next few weeks, although insiders have warned previously it is “highly unlikely” all 50 will ever reopen again.
July 2020
John Lewis announces a raft of store closures, including branches in Birmingham, Swindon and Watford.
November 2020
The second lockdown closes all non-essential retail.
2 December 2020
John Lewis reopens its Vangarde store, in accordance with the rules. It will open till 8pm six nights a week through till Christmas, store bosses say.
“Christmas is such a special time for us and we’ve been working hard over the last four weeks to make sure our shop is at its absolute best to offer all the products and services you’ve missed,” said branch manager Kylie Gilson.
6 January 2021
The third national lockdown begins, closing the store again.
24 March 2021
It is announced that another eight stores will not reopen, including John Lewis York.