Sporting goods retailer Decathlon is set to close its Queens Square branch in Crawley on July 24, ending a decade-long presence on the high street. The closing down sale is already in progress, with a sign outside the store reading 'permanently closed' while stock is cleared.
Residents Express Concern Over Town Centre Decline
Local residents have voiced worry that the closure represents another blow to Crawley's struggling town centre. One resident, quoted by The Sun, said in a Facebook post: 'It's a huge loss for the town centre which, outside of County Mall, appears to be an increasing struggle for retailers.'
A notice inside the store thanks customers for their loyalty and directs them to Decathlon's website or its Croydon and Brighton locations.
Decathlon's History and Expansion
Founded in France in 1976 by Michel Leclercq, Decathlon now operates more than 1,900 stores across 82 countries. The retailer entered the UK market in 1999 and has become a familiar presence on high streets nationwide.
New Collaboration with IKEA
Separately, Decathlon has partnered with Swedish furniture giant IKEA to trial a 'shop-in-a-shop' concept in the UK. The pilot store opened in April at IKEA Croydon, featuring a standalone 1,188 square metre unit with over 5,000 products spanning 70 sports. If successful, the collaboration could be expanded to additional IKEA locations.
