‘We need John Lewis in Sheffield’: Shoppers react as retailer refuses to rule out permanently closing some stores after lockdown ends

According to reports this week, sources close to the employee-owned chain said it was ‘highly unlikely’ that all 50 sites would reopen as the company battles for its future amid a shift to online shopping.

Dame Sharon White, chairman of John Lewis Partnership, told The Guardian that ‘no decisions had been taken' but that 'financial modelling’ was under way.

The Sheffield department store has a long and important history. It has operated in Barker’s Pool since 1963 and – up until 2002 – traded in Sheffield as Cole Brothers, which originally started on Fargate in 1847.

Readers responded to the developments on The Star’s Facebook page.

Nigel Booth said losing John Lewis would be ‘a massive blow for the city centre', while Sam Wallace said: “If the shop closes it would deter me from shopping in town after lockdown ends.”

And Maureen Glaves said: "Cole Brothers – my mum worked there in 1932, interviewed by Mr Cole himself.

“It would be a terrible loss, Cole Brothers has been a landmark for Sheffield. We hope it remains open for many years to come.”

Sara Jayne said: “We need John Lewis in Sheffield. I’ve shopped there for 35 years. It sells everything.”

Graham Moss pointed out that it was an 'anchor store’ for the city centre. “It has to remain open in order to support the other city centre retailers.”

Nick Morgan expressed optimism however, saying he would be ‘very surprised if the store were to close’.

“I believe that the business owns the lease and therefore their overhead costs will be significantly lower than some of their other, newer stores. Ultimately the Sheffield store will still be profitable – add into the mix the redevelopment of the surrounding area, and the fact that the store is a major destination not just for Sheffield but the wider area, and I think the Sheffield JLP is probably here to stay.”

The city was to get a new John Lewis store as part of the Sevenstone scheme that stalled during the last recession. The firm decided to stay put and the project’s successor, Heart of the City II, is being built around its premises.

JLP also includes Waitrose, which has a supermarket on Ecclesall Road. The grocer has fared better during the lockdown due to remaining open, but the partnership closed 12 Waitrose branches last year.

The partnership said in a statement: "We keep our estate under continuous review in order to ensure we have the right amounts of shops to best serve our customers and remain commercially viable. It is too early to make a decision but, as always, any decision that is made is done with securing the long-term financial sustainability of the partnership and is always communicated to our partners first."

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