Clothes retailer Gap has announced the closure of all 81 of its stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The company announced on Wednesday (June 30) that it intends to take business online “in a phased manner” from the end of August through to the end of September this year.
Gap had an outlet store at East Midlands Designer Outlet near Mansfield which will shut along with the other venues.
The number includes 19 shops that were scheduled to close in July due to the end of leases.
In a statement, Gap said: “In the United Kingdom and Europe, we are going to maintain our Gap online business.
“The e-commerce business continues to grow and we want to meet our customers where they are shopping.
“We’re becoming a digital-first business and we’re looking for a partner to help drive our online business.
“Due to market dynamics in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, we shared with our team today that we are proposing to close all company-operated Gap Specialty and Gap Outlet stores in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland in a phased manner from the end of August through the end of September 2021.
“We are thoughtfully moving through the consultation process with our European team, and we will provide support and transition assistance for our colleagues as we look to wind down stores.
“We are thoughtfully moving through the consultation process with our European team, and we will provide support and transition assistance for our colleagues as we look to wind down stores.”
Gap has been on the UK high street since 1987, when it opened shops outside of the USA for the first time in London.
