Shoppers in Hexham and Sunderland react to M&S store closures

Shoppers have described sadness and frustration at the closure of two Marks and Spencer (M&S) stores in the North East.

The retailer’s Sunderland store and Hexham’s Maidens Walk ceased trading on Friday.

The retailer said the move was prompted by “changing” shopping habits and added it had invested £13m in its North East stores over the past year.

However residents in Sunderland said it had been “one of the worst things to happen” to the city and worry for the high street’s future.

Meanwhile, a bid has been launched to achieve listed status for the Sunderland store.

M&S announced its plan to shut the branch in January, with a new, larger shop at the Washington Galleries set to open.

Historic England confirmed it had received an application for listing the store in the city centre, which was made by Sunderland Conservatives.

Councillor Lyall Reed said listing would protect the building from “inconsiderate changes to its Art Deco architecture”.

Neil, 74, and Norma, 84, from Sunderland said it was a “crying shame” and the “end of era” as it followed the closures of flagship department stores like Binns and Joplings.

“I feel very emotional, it’s been here all my life,” Norma continued.

“We come here every week, it’s certainly going to change how often I come into the town centre, I won’t be coming in as often which is sad.”

Denise Ward, from Ryhope, said Sunderland “was going down hill”.

“We’ve lost Marksy’s, what else have we got? It’s been here for years and now we’ve got nothing.”

“This is one of the worst things to happen to Sunderland,” Alan Crawford, from Pallion, said.

“You can’t just keep moving stores to retail parks because old people can’t get there, they should stay in the city centre,” the 74-year-old explained.

Meanwhile in Hexham, residents previously spoke of being “devastated” and it being the “another nail in the coffin” for the town.

It sparked concerns for the future of the high street and main stores for shoppers.

The stores are among 110 to close across the country as part of a major overhaul by M&S implemented over five years.

Its Middlesbrough shop closed in 2023 after 122 years of trade.