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A closing date has been set for one of Leicester’s best known shops.

Irish, which occupies an iconic building at the entrance to Silver Street and High Street, will service its last customers on Saturday, January 27.

The third generation family business has been a staple on the city’s shopping scene for 102 years, beginning life with a small store in Silver Street.

Over the years it had stores opposite Lewis’s in Humberstone Gate, inside the Silver Arcade, at the entrance to the Shires and in the grade II-listed building it now occupies.

It will continue trading from a second shop in Churchgate, Loughborough, which has also become home to its online operation.

(Image: Chris Gordon)

Today it is known for brands such as Levi’s, Timberland, Dr Martens, Joules, Seasalt and Aigle – and its Army surplus gear.

Co-director Tom Brown announced the closure plans in November 2016, but said the delay had come about finalising a lease with the new tenant Caffè Nero.

He said the second floor will be occupied by a tattoo parlour.

Irish is the latest in a string of big name stores to leave the city in recent years including Fenwick, BHS and House of Fraser.

Mr Brown said he and his father John would be sad to say goodbye to the shop, but said the heyday for city centre shopping had passed.

The business, which once had a staff of around 30, is now down to a team of four.

(Image: Chris Gordon)

Tom, who started as a Saturday boy in the 1970s, said: “It’s been quite a lengthy process waiting for the legal arrangements to go through with Cafe Nero.

“We traded through Christmas and we’re now clearing out the shop, giving people what they want at the right price.

“Everything is moving over to the Loughborough store and the internet will be our next big focus – right now it accounts for around 10 per cent of sales.

“We will also be refocusing the military stuff in the Loughborough store.

“The Leicester building is going to Caffè Nero on a “very long lease” and they will be opening in March or April. The tattoo parlour upstairs will move in next month.

“I think Leicester has changed too much for us.

“There’s too much competition and an unfair playing field with Fosse Park, which is expanding and has free parking.

“Everyone is getting the message now that they can’t compete, and customers are saying that too.

“It’s all right for the pound shops and the charity shops and cafes but quality retailers have gone.”

He said they would be selling off a lot of 70s, 80s and 90s merchandising material on January 20, which they had already had a lot of interest for.

Irish started out as Irish Clothing Company, but changed to Irish Menswear before shortening to Irish because shoppers thought it just sold Irish tweed.

In the early days, the company manufactured some of its own products.

By the 1950s it had become the go-to store for Teddy Boy suits.

It served the Mods in the 1960s and went on to be the first retailer in the city – and possibly the country – to retail pre-washed and stonewashed jeans.

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