A POPULAR toy shop chain with around 160 branches across the UK is closing two stores, with one waving goodbye to customers in hours. The Entertainer, which sells toys, puzzles and board games, is shutting the sites after three shops already closed in recent months.
![[The Entertainer toy shop storefront.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2b0dhpt-entertainer-toy-shop-frontage-689365829.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Its Luton branch in the Luton Point shopping centre is shutting today, January 25. Meanwhile, its Croydon branch in the Whitgift shopping centre will close on February 1. Three other branches have closed in recent months as well, in Edinburgh, Brent Cross and Haslemere.
Shoppers have taken to social media to express their dismay at the two upcoming closures. One Croydon resident said: "What a derelict place Croydon High Street has become.". A closing-down sale has already been launched at the branch, with the retailer offering 25% off its products.
Meanwhile, a Luton local said: "Luton is on its knees", while another added that they were "gutted" the Entertainer is closing. Andrew Murphy OBE, group chief executive officer at The Entertainer, said all five stores were closing after lease agreements came to an end.
He said the Edinburgh branch had been relocated to a "stronger" location where it could pull in more trade. It is common practice for retailers to close branches in underperforming areas and open them where they think they will see better sales. Mr Murphy added: "Like most large national retailers, we continuously assess potential new locations while deciding whether to renew those shops which have reached the end of their lease arrangements.
