Staff at one of Dundee’s main fashion stores have informed customers it will close next month.
According to a report, Spanish fashion chain Zara will wield the axe on a number of stores in Scotland, including its branch in Dundee.
Zara hasn’t officially commented but customers have been informed the prominent High Street shop will close next month.
The announcement of the stores pending closure has left many “gobsmacked” given its popularity with many in the city.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said the news was “devastating” for the city centre.
He said: “Over the last few months, businesses have been warning of the impact of Covid-19 and changed shopping habits on the sustainability of their businesses.
“It’s devastating news that Zara is set to close more stores. Devastating for the workforce, customers and the high street generally.
“We’ve lost so many high street names over the last decade and I fear we’ve yet to see the end of the announcements.
“We’ve all got to play our part, it’s not enough for us to complain, we have to shop locally. The shift to internet shopping continues to devastate the high street and this is not solely related to Covid-19.”
It is understood Zara’s East Kilbride shop will also close.
In June the owner of Zara, Inditex, said it will close as many as 1,200 stores around the world as the clothing retailer tries to boost online sales during the chaos wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Inditex said it would “absorb” between 1,000 and 1,200 mainly smaller stores, with losses concentrated among older shops from brands other than Zara.
The Spanish company’s other brands include Bershka, Pull & Bear and Massimo Dutti.
Closures are expected to be concentrated in Asia and Europe.
Zara has been asked to comment.
