A poignant note has been left on the window of one of York’s largest stores, which won’t reopen again.
Topshop in the Coppergate Centre has fallen victim to parent company Arcadia falling into administration.
The brand was bought by online fashion retailer Asos earlier this month for £295 million – but not the shops.
Now staff in the store have left a notice in the message which reads: “To all our lovely customers.
“Our journey has come to an end as Topshop, Topman York.
“Thank you for your loyalty. Love from the York team xxx.”
It was written by former shopworker Emma who said: “I would have written this neater but I was too busy crying.”
‘Absolutely heartbroken’
News of the note drew support from York shoppers after we shared it on Instagram.
“So so sad,” said Janice Dunphy. “My daughter worked here part time for five years – it was a great shop for teens to take their first leap into employment – the full time team were amazing.”
“Absolutely heartbroken for the staff that have been treated so appallingly by Phillip Green,” said the York People’s Assembly.
It comes as more than 150 former Arcadia staff prepared to launch a legal battle against Sir Philip Green’s retail empire over their redundancies.
The “devastated” staff members have claimed that Arcadia failed to follow the correct consultation procedures when making redundancies.
Deloitte, administrators for Arcadia, said around 2,500 jobs would go as a result of the sale of the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands to Asos.