ANOTHER Huddersfield town centre store has shut its doors.
Retail giant Marks & Spencer has closed its outlet at The Piazza – 16 months after announcing the unit would close.
The company has shifted the business to its premises in New Street.
The company’s third shop, Marks & Spencer’s Simply Food outlet at Waterloo, is unaffected by the plans.
The Piazza store, which was opened almost 20 years ago, had menswear, lingerie and nightwear on sale.
A spokesperson for M&S said: “I can confirm that our Piazza Shopping Centre store in Huddersfield has now closed, bringing all our departments under one roof at the New Street store.
“The New Street store will continue to offer all of the M&S ranges previously available to shoppers in Huddersfield.
“There have been no job losses and all 17 employees have now been transferred.”
Marks & Spencer has had its premises in New Street since 1934 and had been using the premises to sell womenswear, food and cards..
The shutdown – first announced in a plan in May 2011 – is another blow to shopping in that part of Huddersfield.
Other outlets around The Piazza are empty.
There are already several empty units following the closure of an O2 store and a move by Clarks shoe shop to the Kingsgate Centre.
An M & S spokesman insisted last year: “The changes will provide customers with an even better shopping experience following the introduction of new fitting rooms and a refreshed look with new flooring, shelving, signage and equipment.”
Marks & Spencer arrived in Huddersfield in 1894 – the year it was first set up.
Huddersfield was one of the company’s earliest premises following the partnership set up in Leeds by Jewish immigrant Michael Marks and cashier Tom Spencer.
Marks had set up his penny bazaar stall in the Kirkgate Market, Leeds, 10 years earlier.
The retailer moved its Huddersfield base to New Street in 1934.
The firm launched the 7,200 sq ft Simply Food store at the Gallagher Centre, Waterloo, in February 2009.
There are more than 700 M&S stores across the country.
