It’s been confirmed this afternoon that the Altrincham branch of Phones 4U will not be saved by a rival phone retailer.
The George Street shop has been closed since the mobile phone retailer suddenly went into administration last week.
There was a potential lifeline for staff when EE – whose decision to abandon its contract with Phones 4U had led to the retailer’s demise – said it would be paying £2.5m to buy 58 Phones 4U stores. Vodafone had already announced it would buy 140 stores, safeguarding 887 jobs.
However, it’s been confirmed today that the Phones 4U at 93 George Street will definitely be one of the 360-plus stores to be shut permanently.
Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) added that a total of 1,679 people will lose their jobs, with a further 720 staying on to help as the firm winds down its operations.
PwC has appointed Prime Retail Property Consultants to advise on the estate as it looks to offload leaseholds.
Partner Tim Hance is looking for prospective new occupers or landlords “to make early contact”.
Phones 4U’s Manchester city centre stores on Market Street and in the Arndale Centre will also be shutting, as will the branch at the Trafford Centre.
