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ARGOS bosses have refused to clarify whether jobs at the Strabane store could be under threat, amidst new persistent rumours the local branch is set to close.
When contacted about potential redundancies last week, the high street retailer suggested that management in Strabane had spoken to staff about the impact of Lidl’s plans to relocate into Strabane Retail Park but declined to say if this meant Argos would be removed from the town altogether.
Lidl’s plans to build a brand new supermarket on the Branch Road site were passed at council last autumn. Those plans involved demolishing the existing buildings to make way for the £8.5million redevelopment.
However, WeAreTyrone now understands that Argos in Strabane could cease trading as early as this summer – a move which is all the more surprising given that the local outlet is considered to be one of the most profitable in the North.
Last year the company told this newspaper it had ‘no plans’ to close up shop in Strabane. However, it failed to give a similar commitment when asked last week.
After asking Argos if the store was closing, when this was happening and why; and how many staff were being made redundant, an Argos spokesperson responded, “Our landlord has been granted planning permission for proposals that could impact our Strabane store and we’re talking to colleagues about what this may mean. We’re committed to serving our Argos customers in Strabane and we’ll keep the local community updated.”