WREXHAM’S HMV store is to close.
It comes after the 92-year-old firm was placed in administration last month.
Administrators Deloitte announced 66 of the high street music chain’s shops are to close, costing nearly 1,000 jobs.
The Wrexham store – the only one in North Wales – is listed among those closing, but the chain’s Chester branch has avoided the axe.
The shops earmarked to go will continue to trade but the closures are expected over the next two months.
Deloitte said the 66 shops, which employ 930 people, were all loss-making.
Administrator Nick Edwards said the shops had been identified as part of an ongoing review of the company's financial position and the group still hoped to secure a future for the restructured business.
He said: “This step has been taken in order to enhance the prospects of securing the business’ future as a going concern. We continue to receive strong support from staff and are extremely grateful to them for their commitment during an understandably difficult period.”
Customers outside Wrexham’s Island Green store were saddened by the news
Ryan Roberts, 25, from Cefnybedd said: “It’s a shame all of these high street stores are disappearing, it means there’s a lack of choice.
“This is one of the places I go because it sells the media I like. I’m into computer games, but Game has gone as well.”
Twins Mark and Richard Hanmer, 31, of Wrexham, said the closure was not a surprise.
Mark said: “It’s just the way it’s going, Everything is on-line line now, you can download anything, so why would you go into a shop?”
He said downloaded music also saved space and suggested HMV should have moved with the times and invested in distributing music that way.
Richard added: “This is the first time I’ve been here in months, and I went in because of the closing down sale.”
David Tomlinson, 60, of Wrexham, said: “It’s very sad. Another main store gone, and on the corner as well. It’s not good for the town centre.
“I hope that another store can come in and take its place. I do like to buy physical copies of my music. Luckily the Chester one is staying open.”
The HMV group, which currently has 220 UK stores, axed nearly 190 jobs across its offices and distribution centres last month.
Restructuring firm Hilco, the group behind HMV Canada, is thought to be talking to suppliers and HMV’s landlords as part of its plans to salvage the group, but it has declined to comment on its plans for the business.
The store closures come amid the high profile collapses of camera chain Jessops and DVD and game rental business Blockbuster last month. Administrators closed all of Jessops’ 187 stores after it collapsed, but sold the business to a group of buyers that includes Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones.