business · BBC ↗

End for Sunderland's historic Joplings department store

BBC Published Jun 19, 2010 Reviewed Jul 1, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

The Joplings department store has been on the same site for 206 years.

206 years · site Administrators for Joplings, administrators

The closure of Joplings resulted in the loss of 100 jobs.

100 jobs · jobs Administrators for Joplings, administrators

The store entered administration in May, along with nine other Vergo Retail stores in the UK.

9 stores · other stores Administrators for Joplings, administrators

Vergo stepped in to rescue Joplings in 2007 when Owen Owen collapsed.

2007 year · rescue Vergo Retail, company

Joplings opened in 1804 as Jopling & Tuer.

1804 year · opening Joplings, store

An historic Sunderland department store has closed its doors after attempts to find a buyer failed.

Administrators for Joplings said the store, which has been on the same site for 206 years, closed on Saturday with the loss of 100 jobs.

The store went into administration in May along with nine others in the UK owned by Vergo Retail.

Liverpool-based Vergo stepped in to rescue Joplings in 2007 when parent company Owen Owen collapsed.

A spokesman for MCR said: "Since the administration began we have worked hard to secure a purchase of the Vergo business.

"However, given the tough economic climate and the financial challenges hitting the UK's retail industry, certain stores, including Joplings, can no longer be sustained."

From its opening in 1804, trading as Jopling & Tuer - named after the stores owners - the store became part of the fabric of Sunderland.

Known by many as "Harrods of Sunderland", the store has also been a significant part of the city's architectural heritage.

This article was originally published by BBC ↗. citations.press indexes the source-backed facts above and links to the original. Something wrong? Corrections policy · Report an error