Another familiar name on Bangor’s high street is preparing to close, with Claire’s set to shut its Bangor store following the closure announcement of The Original Factory Shop (TOFS), which is already running a closing-down sale in the city.
Claire’s and TOFS are both owned by the same parent group, and the decision to close both Bangor outlets reflects wider financial pressures facing the business. Shoppers have recently noticed signs indicating that Claire’s will be closing, marking the end of another long-standing retail presence in the city centre.
The news follows confirmation that The Original Factory Shop has entered administration, with administrators overseeing the wind-down of a number of branches nationwide, including Bangor. Founded in 1969, TOFS grew to operate more than 130 stores across the UK, offering discounted clothing, homeware and everyday essentials, often in smaller towns and city centres.
Similarly, Claire’s has been a familiar sight on British high streets for decades, particularly popular with younger shoppers and families for its fashion accessories and jewellery. Like many bricks-and-mortar retailers, the chain has faced increasing challenges from rising operating costs, reduced footfall and the ongoing shift towards online shopping.
For Bangor, the closure of both stores represents another setback for the high street, which has already seen a number of retailers disappear in recent years. While some shoppers have welcomed the opportunity to take advantage of clearance offers, others have expressed concern about the impact on local jobs and the shrinking range of shops in the city centre.
No final closing dates have yet been confirmed for either store, but both are expected to shut once remaining stock has been sold.
As Bangor continues to navigate a period of significant change on its high street, the closures once again raise wider questions about the future of town centres across North Wales, and how they can adapt to shifting retail habits and economic pressures.
