French Connection closes its Manchester city centre store for second time - what we know

Struggling fashion chain French Connection has closed its shutters six years after re-opening.

The site, at 7-9 Exchange Street, is a close neighbour with its original Manchester shop on the corner of St Ann’s Square, which closed January 2016 and is now operating as high-end fashion store &Other Stories. The new store opened the following year in 2017.

But as of Saturday, July 15, the store closed its doors for a second time amid a slashed prices sale and is believed to be now set to be taken over by women’s clothing store Mint Velvet. A source said staff at the store were told of the decision last minute and that the chain had been hoping to stay or find a suitable new premises in time.

The label was massively popular in the 1990s and early 2000s with its head-turning, tongue in cheek FCUK logos. But it has struggled to compete with high street rivals such as Zara in recent years. It is not yet known if the closure will result in job losses. French Connection have been approached for comment.