River Island to close popular Omagh store

OMAGH is bracing itself for a major retail blow after fashion giant River Island confirmed its much-loved store at the Showgrounds Retail Park will close its doors for good on Monday, September 22.

Posters announcing a “closing down sale” and declaring “all stock must go” went up this week, sparking dismay among shoppers and local business leaders alike.

The closure is part of a sweeping restructuring plan by the family-owned retailer, which was founded in 1948 and trades from around 230 stores across the UK and Ireland. River Island is shutting 33 branches after recording a £33.2 million loss in 2023 and a steep 19% drop in sales. The chain has warned a further 71 stores could also shut if agreements cannot be reached with landlords to slash rents.