A block’s biggest department store in south London is to close permanently to make way for a housing development, it has been announced. Morleys Tooting announced that it will close in the coming months to allow plans to progress, with the exact closing date to be confirmed in due course.
The popular store on Mitcham Road, which opened in the early 1900s, said on Instagram that it will be running a sale starting on January 9 and continuing in the months leading up to its closure. It will be closed on January 7th and 8th to prepare for the closing sale.
It comes after a developer bought the store, which was put up for sale in October. The move is set to unlock plans by Morleys Stores Limited to build homes on the site, which were approved by Wandsworth Council in 2022.
The scheme will see the six terraced houses that make up Morleys Tooting demolished for 24 new flats and shops below. The new blocks will be up to four stories high. There are no affordable homes included in the plans.
The application documents stated that the scheme will involve “the redevelopment of an underutilized site”. The site is a five minute walk from Tooting Broadway tube station.
Ian, from Morleys in Tooting, said in the Instagram video: “We have some important news to share. Morleys of Tooting will be closing its doors permanently. Whilst this was not an easy decision, we felt it was important to let you , our loyal customers, know first.”
Sandra, also from Morleys Tooting, said of the closing sale: “It’s your chance to shop with us and find some incredible deals before we say goodbye.”
Morleys Stores Group is a chain of independently owned department stores, with seven other stores. These are Morleys Brixton, Morleys Bexleyheath, Elys Wimbledon, Camp Hopson, Pearsons Enfield, Roomes Fashion & Home and James Selbys. More details of the redevelopment of Morleys Tooting will be revealed in due course.
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