Why it matters: The closure of Bargain Food Store highlights the challenges facing retailers in Ipswich and raises further questions about the future of Sailmakers, which has been hit with several closures in recent times.
The big picture: Sailmakers has been sold twice at auction in the past year, each time for just over £3 million. The shopping centre has seen multiple store openings and closures in the last 12 months.
The identity of Sailmakers' new owners remains unknown.
Key details:
Bargain Food Store opened on February 16, selling products nearing their best-before dates.
Owner Gary Martin had signed leases for three other shops: Stock King, Big Red Label, and Just Potatoes.
Just Potatoes has closed and reopened under new ownership as Potatoes & More.
Stock King and Big Red Label units remain unopened or empty.
What's next: It's unclear if this is a permanent or temporary closure, with some speculation on social media that the store will be undergoing a rebrand.
The bottom line: The frequent turnover of retailers in Sailmakers continues to raise questions about the future of retail in the town centre.
