Department store chain Fenwick has announced the closure of its Windsor store, blaming the “ravages of online shopping” for its poor viability.

The retailer has commenced a consultation process with employees of the store, which has been trading in King Edward Court for 37 years.

The news comes just as Fenwick revealed the finer details of its new two-storey, 80,000sq ft store at the Lexicon Bracknell town centre development.

The announcement also comes three months after Fenwick announced it would close down its Leicester store, where it has been trading in Market Street for 55 years.

All 40 employees at Fenwick Windsor will now be offered roles at the Bracknell store, slated to open in autumn this year.

READ MORE: Fenwick Leicester store closure puts 100 jobs at risk

Fenwick said that while the Windsor store survived the 2006 departure of John Lewis-owned Caleys department store owned, and many others from the high street, “the ravages of online shopping, the under performance of the store and the size and mix of the business has slowly whittled away at the store‘s viability”.

“We have always seen Windsor as a perfect Fenwick town, where our particularly fashion orientated, specialist store offer would thrive. Unfortunately we were unable to find a suitable alternative location,” Fenwick chairman Mark Fenwick said.

“We would like to offer our thanks to the loyal management and our colleagues for their years of dedication to the store. Now our Windsor employees and customers will be our top priority.”

Before the lease expired in 2015, Fenwick searched Windsor and the local area for a suitable alternative location to no success.

“The decision to close has been particularly difficult for the company, the family and me personally, as we have been committed to serving the people of Windsor for over 30 years,” Mark Fenwick said.

The new store in Bracknell will offer a denim studio, a wine store, a “world of toys” for kids, fashion ranges, cosmetics and shoe emporium, alongside a new restaurant concept from Fuego and Mason & Rye.

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