Exeter's branch of House of Fraser is set to close in January 2019, with signs in the store's windows advertising a closing down sale. Staff were reportedly informed on Friday, though managers declined to comment on the reports last week.
The closure comes despite earlier indications that the Exeter store would remain open while the larger Plymouth branch was earmarked for closure. The Plymouth store was saved after a 12-month rent deal was agreed with landlords Plymouth City Council and British Land.
BBC South West Business Correspondent Neil Gallacher noted that the news will shock some in Exeter, especially given the store's history and location. Unlike many other House of Fraser outlets, the Exeter store owns most of its building, meaning rent pressures are not the primary cause of closure.
The store, originally known as Colsons in the 1800s, has been a fixture on Exeter's High Street for over a century, undergoing several rebuilds and rebrandings, including as Dingles. It was the first store in the city to feature an escalator.
