Popular shopping centre with shops including Argos and WHSmith to shut for good in just hours after 33 years
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A POPULAR shopping centre is set to shut up shop in just HOURS, in another blow to the high street. Locals are making their final trips to St Giles Centre in Elgin, Scotland after bosses chose to pull the plug. The centre will pull down its shutters for the final time on January 20.
![[Entrance to the St Giles Centre shopping center.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2k7p8ye-lady-entering-st-giles-964934106.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The shopping centre has struggled in recent years following the closure of several large retailers. Popular brands including Monsoon, Mountain Warehouse and Superdrug all shut up shop, leaving patches of the centre eerily empty. However, locals still enjoyed shopping in major stores like Argos, Waterstones and WH Smith.
Bosses have revealed that the shock closure was the result of "severe financial challenges" amid increased costs across the board. It comes after Moray Council said it had "exhausted all reasonable avenues of support" back in November, but there was still a "significant sum of arrears".
"The company is disappointed at the closure, however after taking professional advice this difficult decision was the only option available.". Shoppers have been left gutted by the news and many have taken to social media to share their disappointment.
Posting on Facebook, one person said: "No way! This is incredibly sad, I have been going in there my entire life". Another added: "Shame for all the workers who are employed in the stores within the centre and not much notice for them, especially in January... will be a real shame to see it close".
