M&S to shut Mong Kok branch by end of August

Lifestyle brand Marks and Spencer (M&S) is shutting its Mong Kok store by end of August, after nearly 10 years of operation.

On Monday, the lifestyle and clothing brand announced via social media that its Langham Place store will close on 24 August. The post thanked customers for their support and offered a 12% discount on food and drink from 18 August until closing.

While M&S has other Hong Kong locations, its Langham Place branch was a local favourite for its unique dining area and hot food. Opening in November 2015, this 3,600-square-foot store made history as M&S’s first Asian site to launch “hot food to go,” serving fresh pork rolls, toasted sandwiches and ready-to-eat meals, according to The Standard.

The announcement has triggered heated discussions online, with many saying they were shocked at the news, a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE saw on Threads.

A Threads post featuring the store's closure notice has gone viral, garnering over 700 likes and 1.3k forwards. Reactions were mixed, with some users expressing sadness and others blaming the rise of eCommerce for the shutdown.

Since its 1988 entry into Hong Kong, M&S once peaked at around 20 branches. The Langham Place closure reflects ongoing challenges in the city's retail and catering sectors, which have faced numerous shutdowns.

This contrasts with the June renewal of its flagship Central store lease. After nearly 30 years at the location, M&S secured a new rent of HK$6 million per month—a 50% decrease from its peak of HK$12 million in 2016, according to hk01.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to M&S for a statement.

Don't miss: Burger King to shut The Peak branch by end of August

This year has seen a wave of closures across Hong Kong's retail and dining sectors. Fast-food chain Burger King will shutter its Peak branch by the end of August, leaving only a single outlet at the airport.

This follows the closure of Daniel’s Restaurant's last branch in Mei Foo in May. Other affected brands include bakery chain Taipan Bread & Cakes and Taiwanese croissant specialist Hazukido.

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