Fife Department Store announces closure of Kirkcaldy High Street shop

The businesses within the former Debenhams store will move out after Saturday.

The closure comes as part of the announcement to demolish the former Postings Shopping Centre which sits behind it on Hill Street.

Both buildings are owned by Wakefield-based businessman Tahir Ali.

The department store runs under Hill Street and will be directly impacted by the major plans to flatten the former centre and clear the land for proposed housing development.

Staff were informed of the plan some months ago.

Mr Ali created Fife Department Store in November 2021.

He stepped in after previous lease holder, 15-17 collapsed in chaos with many concessions claiming they were left out of pocket.

15-17 was mired in claims of traders and contractors at its other UK stores not being paid - reports indicate Kirkcaldy’s branch had a similar situation.

The move proved to be popular with shoppers, and allowed the businesses to continue to have a High Street presence.

The shop will close to allow the adjacent New Look to continue trading.

The two units are linked - they used to be home to the former Littlewoods store - and both have storage facilities and staff rooms which run under Hill Street below where Tesco used to sit.

The complex nature of the proposed demolition also led to Mr Ali buying up a number of High Street buildings including Bank of Scotland, Savers, and Bob & Berts.

All businesses remain unaffected by this week’s announcements.