National video game retailer GAME will not reopen in Bangor after lockdown, the store has announced.
Despite the easing of lockdown in Wales, which allows ‘non-essential’ retail to open on Monday 12 April, news that the Bangor store will close permanently was confirmed on Twitter this afternoon.
A Tweet from the GAME Store in Llandudno said: “Unfortunately Game Bangor will not be reopening, but Game Llandudno will be open from 9AM Monday.”
When asked if the store was closing for good, the Twitter account replied “In Bangor, I’m Afraid So”.
The closure is another blow for Bangor High Street following the recent closures of Top Shop, Body Shop, H&M, Peacocks and the impending closure of Debenhams, which is likely to reopen for a stock clearance sale before closing permanently.
The GAME company’s origins lie in the founding of the Rhino Group by Terry Norris and Bev Ripley in 1992. A number of mergers and acquisitions followed during the 1990s, and in 1999, the company was purchased by Electronics Boutique Limited, which rebranded itself as The Game Group. The company continued to expand during the 2000s, purchasing several retailers including Gameswizards in Australia.
In March 2012, several suppliers, including Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Capcom refused to supply their latest products due to concerns over Game’s creditworthiness. Game subsequently entered administration on 26 March 2012 and was purchased by OpCapita the following week. Baker Acquisitions was subsequently renamed Game Retail Ltd.
The company operated in the United Kingdom under the GAME and Gamestation brands from the acquisition of the latter in May 2007 until the end of 2012, when it was announced that the business would focus solely on the Game brand.
GAME Digital plc reported a £10.4 million loss for the 12-month period from July 2016 to July 2017 in its full year results.
In June 2019, Game Digital agreed to a takeover of the company by Frasers Group for £52 million.
