SHOPPERS in Bath are set to welcome back a much-loved department store after its sudden closure last year.
Jollys, the historic retailer on Milsom Street, shut its doors in December – but will now be making a grand return.
Morleys Stores has signed a lease to take over the site and plans to restore the shop to its former glory.
The company, which owns department stores across the UK, has confirmed Jollys will reopen in two phases – a soft launch in March 2026, followed by a full reopening in October.
Bosses say the store will feature fashion, beauty, and homeware, including brands never before seen in Bath.
Prior to its closure, the department store had been one of the oldest in Europe, having served customers for two centuries.
It was originally opened as a seasonal shop in 1823, before being bought by House of Fraser – now part of the Frasers family – in 1970.
Allan Winstanley, chief executive of Morleys Department Stores, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing Jollys back to life and to be part of the vibrant retail landscape in Bath.”
He added that the store will keep its historic name, paying tribute to its deep roots in the city.
The building, owned by Bath and North East Somerset Council, is set for a revival after 18 months of discussions with Morleys.
Morleys is working with Bath City Council on a major refurbishment of the building to modernise it while maintaining its traditional charm.
The revamp will also introduce a full-service beauty experience and a brand new food and drink offering.
Kevin Guy, Bath & North East Somerset Council leader, said: “Milsom Street has always been a very special shopping destination and Morleys Stores is a fantastic fit for the area.
“Morleys’ decision complements the investment the council is making in the Milsom Quarter.
“The council has been working hard over the past 18 months to secure the future of this flagship store and a significant element of the plan is to make it once again the anchor store for Milsom Street.”
The return of Jollys is expected to create new jobs and breathe fresh life into Milsom Street.
Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for Resources, added: “We set out the council’s commitment to the local economy in our ten-year economic strategy.
“This investment is a very positive recognition of the great retail offer our city has and the work the council has undertaken to support it.”
Morleys Stores operates several department stores across the UK, including Elys in Wimbledon, Pearsons in Enfield, and Camp Hopson in Newbury.
TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET
Despite the good news of Jollys reopening, the news comes amid a challenging time for the whole of the UK’s retail sector.
Once the beating heart of British shopping, high street retailers have been battered by the rise of online shopping, with footfall dwindling.
The cost-of-living crisis and soaring inflation have only made things worse, as cash-strapped shoppers cut back on spending.
Now, many stores that once welcomed a steady stream of customers are closing their doors for good.
In some cases, landlords are either unwilling or unable to invest in keeping shops open, further speeding up the closures.
For now, residents will have to seek out other options for their shopping as the future of the store remains uncertain.
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
