Landlord is blamed in shock closure of Sudbury discount store

A popular Sudbury discount store is to close in weeks - with the loss of some jobs.

Thing-Me-Bobs in Borehamgate will close in the middle of June, though some staff will transfer to other stores in the QD group which includes a store elsewhere in the town.

The closure is the result of a falling out between the QD Group and the landlords who are Babergh District Council.

Babergh District Council’s Leader and Cabinet Member for the Economy, councillor John Ward said: “Our appointed agent negotiated on behalf of the council but QD stores were unwilling to pay anything more than a nominal rent, whereas the other units all pay a market rent.

“The council bought the shopping centre as an investment and needs to generate a return on this to pay for vital public services, as central government funding for local authorities decreases. With the existing QD store and Roys, there will be no lessening of the retail offering in Sudbury.”

He was responding to a statement from QD stores, blaming the council for the closure. QD group said they had `no option’ but closure, despite exhaustive negotiations.

Nick Rubins, chief executive of the QD Group, which owns Thing-Me-Bobs, said: “It is with great regret that we have to announce the closure of Thing-Me-Bobs in Sudbury, which will have its final trading day on June 16.

“Despite months of negotiation, we have been unable to reach agreement with the council to continue to trade on the site. Decisions relating to property are always complex and are not taken easily: they in no way reflect the hard work undertaken by our staff.”

Operations manager Chris Meale said: “It is very sad to be leaving the Thing-Me-Bobs store, which has been part of the QD family for five years. Nine staff currently work at the store, all of whom were offered employment elsewhere within the QD Group, and one team member will be transferring to QD in Sudbury. We are sad to be losing the other staff but wish them well in the future.”

The QD store three minutes’ walk away in East Street is not affected and the company is keen to stress that all the product lines, from homewares, food, pet supplies, gifts to toys and games and electrical appliances stocked at Thing-Me-Bobs, are available at the same discount prices at QD.

Family-owned QD Stores opened four new stores in 2017, in Sudbury, Raunds, Melton Mowbray and Lowestoft.

The firt QD store opened in Anglia Square, Norwich in September 1985.