A SHADOW has been case over the future of many Dunnes Stores outlets in the north after the Irish retailer announced the closure of three stores in as many weeks.
Staff at the company's Portadown branch were told earlier this week they had 30 days left before the shutters would finally come down, putting 50 people out of work.
And it has emerged Dunnes workers at outlets in Antrim and Ballymoney have also been informed of closures recent weeks.
All three outlets had been mainstays in the towns for more than three decades.
It brings to four the number of Dunnes outlets close in Northern Ireland this year after the branch in Connswater Shopping Centre in east Belfast shut in February.
Staff at the Portadown store at High Street Mall were told on Tuesday the shop “isn’t viable”.
It will be a major blow for the centre which has lost a number of retailers in recent months and was recently sold to new owners.
Portadown employees have expressed concern the store could close “within weeks, even days” given the sudden nature of other Dunnes closures this year.
There were protests after the retailers closed its shop in Gorey, Co Wexford in May, seemingly without notice.
Meanwhile, a branch in Bradford was shut with immediate effect in February with the only notice a sign erected for customers outside the store.
“It seems that all the jobs are going, they didn’t mention redeployment,” a worker told the Portadown Times.
“We will know more on Friday when directors are believed to be coming up from Dublin.
“We’re shattered and so many of our faithful customers are really annoyed.
“Dunnes have been a good firm to work for. Some of the staff have been here since they opened at Magowan Buildings about 35 years ago.
Dunnes Stores operates more than 100 stores mainly the Republic.
The closures will leave it with 19 outlets in Northern Ireland while it has others in Britain and Spain.
The company failed to respond to a request for comment on the latest closure.
