r/croydon • u/Jamity647 • 1d ago

Whitgift Closing Down?

Is it true that the Whitgift will be closing down? Is so sad if this is the truth 😞. I have been visiting it for the past month or so as I heard these rumours but got told they might not be true??? Is it not going to close down after all?

Many thanks

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u/spiffing_ 1d ago

I remember feeling the same way about Elephant and Castle centre before they redeveloped it. It was if not more depressing and dodgy.

I walked around Lewisham shopping centre today and it was kinda buzzing and busy. They have announced they will be reveloping it completely and but seeing it IRL doesnt make sense, it was far busier than I recall Croydon being last time I went. But at the end of the day councils want council tax and less businesses can afford rates than ever before.

Last time i went to croydon, maybe 2021 after i was waiting for a car service. I was there at least 5 times a week in the 90s and early 00s, living in South End. The Whitgift centre was like Fallout, it's hard to imagine it being so busy. I remember queuing for the Disney Store and for HMV game releases (i know that was on the high st).

I imagine its closure weighs on the anchor store M&S closing which seems likely in the future. They are closing a lot of larger in town centre stores.