After more than 50 years as a fixture in Norwich, BHS closed its doors for the final time – with shoppers making one last trip to the department store.
The St Stephen's store originally opened its doors in 1963, but today saw them shut for good, as 88 years of British retail history came to an end.
The Norwich store was one of 22 which closed today, the last of more than 150 branches nationwide which have been shut by administrators Duff & Phelps and FRP Advisory.
The signs proclaiming 'Everything Must Go' have been splashed on the windows of the city store for weeks. And yesterday, amid the vast shiny-floored open space of the store, it felt like everything had.
The majority of the clothing had long since been snapped up, leaving only the most determined of shoppers to delve into a few remaining baskets in search of CDs, many of them without sleeves, and DVDs.
Fixtures and fittings were being sold, with labels on tables saying they could be yours for £50. There was the curious sight of the feet and legs of mannequins searching for a good home, with the torsos presumably having already been purchased.
A lonely-looking staff sticky tape dispenser was also offered, while cardboard boxes of clothes hangers were marked 'Free – Help Yourself'.
The department store's collapse in April has affected 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions, sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry and left its high-profile former owners potentially facing a criminal investigation.
Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has borne the brunt of the public fallout, having been branded the 'unacceptable face of capitalism' by furious MPs.
Sir Philip owned BHS for 15 years before selling it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015.
Self-employed Trevor Chaplin, 65, from Potter Heigham, came out empty-handed from his final BHS visit. He said: 'It's scandalous, really, what has happened to it. I used to use the one in Yarmouth a lot and it really is the end of an era. I'm sad to see it go.'
The final purchases for nail technician Amanda Ferm, 36, from Sprowston, were some CDs and DVDs. She said: 'I will miss it. I used to get a lot of my daughter's school uniform in there. It is sad that it is going. I used to like coming in here to go to the restaurant with my mother.'
Caroline Williams, chief executive of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, said: 'It's obviously devastating for everyone who works for BHS and we hope they will find new jobs very soon.'
She added she hoped new tenants would soon be found for the unit.
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