A neighbourhood department store icon reaches the end of days
By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter
Tooting’s biggest department store will permanently close to make way for a housing development, it has been announced.
Morleys Tooting announced it will shut in the coming months to allow the plans to go ahead, with the exact closing date to be confirmed in due course.
The popular shop in Mitcham Road, which first opened in the early 20th century, said on Instagram it will run a sale starting on Thursday and continuing over the months leading up to its closure. It will be shut tomorrow and on Wednesday to prepare for the closing down sale.
It comes after a developer bought the shop, which was put up for sale in October. The move is set to unlock plans from Morleys Stores Limited to build homes on the site, which were approved by Wandsworth council in 2022.
The scheme will see the six terraced homes making up Morleys Tooting demolished for 24 new flats and shops below. The new blocks will reach up to four storeys tall. There are no affordable homes included in the plans.
Application documents said the scheme will involve the ‘redevelopment of a brownfield site which is underutilised’. The site is a five-minute walk from Tooting Broadway Underground station.
Morleys issued an Instagram video, saying: “We have some important news to share. Morleys of Tooting shall be closing its doors permanently.
“Whilst this wasn’t an easy decision, we felt it was important to let you, our loyal customers, know first.”
The video also has a voice saying: “It’s your chance to shop with us and find some incredible deals before we say goodbye.”
Morleys Stores Group is a chain of independently-owned department stores, with seven other stores. These are Morleys Brixton, Morleys Bexleyheath, Elys Wimbledon, Camp Hopson, Pearsons Enfield, Roomes Fashion & Home and James Selbys. More details on the redevelopment of Morleys Tooting will be revealed in due course.
Pictured top: Morleys Tooting, Mitcham Road (Picture: Google Street View)