End of an era as Irvine stores shut up shop

Jan 2 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

CHILDREN’S clothing chain Adams is the latest company facing extinction on the high street after it applied to go into administration on Monday.

Up to 2000 jobs are under threat, including the six staff at Irvine’s Rivergate Mall Adams as the chain becomes the latest casualty of the decline of Britain’s high streets.

Two years ago, the 75-year-old retailer, who also supplies clothes to Boots, was in the same position but was brought back from the brink of closure at the eleventh hour.

It has now applied to the courts to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, as administrator for its 260 stores.

This is the third blow to Irvine’s Rivergate Shopping Centre as Woolworths will be shut by January 1 and Passion for Perfume also closed its doors after the Christmas spending was over.

The shopping centre has lodged plans to build a £2 million extension in 2009 on the condition it has a tenant for the site.