The WHSmith store in Ramsgate High Street will shut at the start of 2024.
The retailer, which has some 600 High Street stores and another 800 travel stores, says it has been “unable to trade viably” in the town.
Staff will be redeployed to other stores “where possible.”
A WHSmith spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Ramsgate will be closing at the start of next year.
“ Unfortunately, we are unable to continue to trade viably from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store in January 2024.
“We are extremely grateful for the commitment of our in-store colleagues who we will support with this transition and redeploy to nearby stores, where possible.”
The shop is being marketed through Miles & Barr Commercial and will be available for a new tenant to move in from February 2024.
Miles & Barr say the landlord of the 5,095 Sq. Ft ground floor unit: “is open to either letting the whole unit at £39,000pa or £21,500pa to split the unit in two.”
The news comes on the heels of the Wilko announcement that it is going into administration with 400 shops and 12,000 jobs under threat, meaning another empty unit in Ramsgate town.
Corby’s Tea Rooms in York Street will also be closing with its last day of trade on September 2 due to the owners retiring.
Ramsgate is already suffering from unused shops in the town where large retailers, such as New Look and Argos, have exited large and prominent properties.
In recent years the exodus has included J C Rooks – now occupied by Hidden Treasures – Sports Direct/USC, destined for smaller retail and flats, Paynes grocers and HSBC bank, which Sugar Rush hopes to move to due to planned development at its current site.
Further back and the exodus includes Woolworth, River Island, Thomas Cook, Blockbusters, Wimpy and so many more businesses large and small, while at Westwood names such as Debenhams, Top Shop, Monsoon, Five Guys, Carphone Warehouse and more disappeared.
