A LANDMARK clothes shop which has been a fixture in Bolton town centre for more than fifty years has closed down.

The Greenwoods menswear shop, in Market Street, has closed for business, with a message on the shop front directing customers to other stores.

It is understood that the decision to close the shop was taken at a national level by Greenwoods Ltd.

The store has supplied Bolton’s men folk with suits, shirts, shoes and casual wear for more than half a century in a number of different locations in the town centre.

The shop first came to the borough in 1959, opening up in the bustling Newport Street shopping area.

The store later moved into the first floor of the Market Place Shopping Centre before the entire Greenwoods chain went into administration in 2009.

Two years later, the chain was bought by a Hong Kong finance company which saved many of the stores — including the one in Bolton.

This meant a £50,000 refurbishment and a new home — with the store re-opening just yards away from its former Market Place home on the corner of Market Street and Corporation Street.

The plan was to shake off the tag of catering for middle aged and older men and aim to appeal to a younger market.

It appears, however, that the new approach did not work, with the store closing its doors this week.

After several attempts to contact Greenwoods Ltd for a comment, no statements were given.

Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration, Keith Davies, said: “It’s always disappointing to hear of a business shutting down, particularly one like Greenwoods which has been in Bolton a long time.

"The timing of the closure is also unfortunate given the refurbishment of the Market Place which will inevitably drive up footfall at this area of the town centre.

“It is a difficult time for retailers nationally at the moment but we are working hard locally to support businesses.

"We’re promoting the town centre as a key destination for shopping, have a business grants scheme in place and we’ve introduced initiatives like the free weekend parking offer at the multi-storey car parks to help retailers and boost trade.”