ONE of The Broadway’s original stores is to close its doors later this month.

The shopping centre’s Vision Express branch will shut to customers permanently on Wednesday, March 15, it has been confirmed.

Two posters placed on the shop front’s windows also told shoppers about the closure.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Vision Express will shut its branch at The Broadway on March 15Vision Express will shut its branch at The Broadway on March 15 (Image: Newsquest)

It states: “This store is closing. This store will be closing on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

“We can’t wait for you to visit us in your nearest Vision Express store which is in Yeadon. We look forward to seeing you soon!”

The Broadway says it is holding conversations with other retail names looking to open up at the centre.

Ian Ward, general manager at The Broadway, Bradford, said: “We’re aware Vision Express intends to close on March 15.

“We’re holding conversations with multiple retailers and leisure providers that are keen to introduce new and exciting propositions to the city of Bradford.

“As always, we’ll make further announcements when the leases are signed.”

Customers of Bradford’s Vision Express branch initially heard about the closure after they received a letter informing them of the news.

Headed ‘our store is closing’, the letter says: “We’re writing to let you know that after careful consideration, we’ve taken the decision to permanently close our Bradford store on the 15th March.

“We’d like to reassure you that we’ll continue to look after your eye health and will transfer your optical record to our nearby store in Yeadon.”

The Yeadon store, located on the Leeds town’s high street, is described as ‘your new store’ on the letter.

The letter goes on to say that other branches are located on Northgate in Baildon, Woolshops in Halifax and also in the White Rose Shopping Centre.

Vision Express was one of the original stores which welcomed shoppers to The Broadway when the centre was officially opened by pop star Alexandra Burke on November 5, 2015.

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Vision Express for comment but has yet to receive a reply.

Meanwhile, The Broadway is due to open a new city centre branch of a bank.

Work is continuing on the new Santander branch inside the shopping centre, with an opening date for the bank yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, work is also underway on Primark opening up a store at The Broadway.

The fashion retailer is set to move from the Kirkgate Centre and fill the store vacated by Debenhams after it closed in May 2021.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: