Independent department store Morleys is closing the doors to its Tooting branch on 30 April after 70 years of trading. The site, the largest homestore in Tooting, is shuttering as part of a trading review.
Though older buildings promise period charm, Morleys’ site needed a significant update for retail use. Management could not justify the investment needed to update the site.
The property has been sold to a development company, which has plans to redevelop it into a residential and commercial space.
Morleys Group’s seven remaining stores will remain open. These include Morleys in Brixton and Bexleyheath, as well as Elys in Wimbledon, Pearsons in Enfield, Camp Hopson in Newbury, James Selby in north London and Roomes Fashion and Home in Upminster.
The group has invested significantly in its estate in recent years including a £3 million refurbishment to Morleys in Brixton in 2022. In addition, in April 2024 it opened a new 20,000 square feet home store in Newbury adjacent to its flagship department store.
The group said it “continues to seek opportunities to expand its portfolio of stores subject to the correct strategic fit”.
This follows November’s news when the retailer appointed industry veteran Allan Winstanley as its new Chief Executive, effective as of January 2025.
Winstanley, a former Executive Director of Menswear, Beauty & Childrenswear at House of Fraser, where he spent over nine years from January 2005 to March 2014 – ending up as Executive Director of Women’s Apparel, Accessories & Beauty – has now taken over from Nigel Blow who was the CEO of Morleys for the last eight years.
Winstanley returns to the UK having worked as Chief Merchandise Officer at Myer department stores in Melbourne, Australia, for the past six and a half years.
