TWENTY people will be made redundant following the closure of a big-brand clothing store.
GAP, located in the Victoria Centre, will be shutting up shop for good on Thursday after more than 25 years of business at the venue.
The premises will be taken over by trendy clothing firm Superdry after it outbid GAP for the renewal of the unit's lease – with the news coming as a "massive shock" to the store manager.
Andy Cheetham, 35, of Burton-on-Trent, has been running GAP for six months.
He said: "We are very upset by the news but it is nothing to do with GAP. We found out everything on February 7. There was a staff meeting and HR people came in and talked staff through it."
Twenty-two people work at the store but only Mr Cheetham and the deputy manager will be redeployed to other GAP shops. Other staff members chose redundancy owing to lack of transfer opportunities. One staff member has been at the store for 22 years.
Mr Cheetham said: "Everyone is really sad and disappointed, especially those who have been here a long time, but we are still trying to have fun.
"We have set ourselves a mission to sell every single item of stock before we close on Thursday."
Shoppers have had mixed feelings about the shop's closure.
Debs Smith, 27, of Beeston, said: "It's sad that GAP is closing, it feels like it has been there ages.
"I am surprised but it is good they are replacing it, there are too many empty shops in the Victoria Centre."
However, Beverley Baker, 53, of Brinsley, was pleased that Superdry was heading to Nottingham's city centre.
She said: "GAP is not somewhere I would ever shop so I'm not too sad about it.
"I love the Westfield in Derby so it would be good to get some high-end shops in the Victoria Centre as well."
GAP's head office was not available for comment.
What do you think about the closure of GAP in the Victoria Centre? Will you miss it? Get in touch: nottinghampost.com
