Oxford city centre shop to close later on this month

The Oxford Outlet Store in Broad Street sells a variety of tourist goods from Oxford University merchandise to city-themed keepsakes.

Operating since 2001, the shop has served customers under various guises but will officially close on Friday, February 23.

Director Sally Moss is sad to see the store depart but is proud of the impact it has had economically in offering tourist products at affordable prices.

The Oxford Outlet Store is set to close this month. (Image: Newsquest)

“I do enjoy the outlet store as my family background is from markets and originally my grandparents and great-grandparents travelled on the fairs so it’s kind of in my DNA,” she said.

“My mum and dad initially opened up this shop in 2001 after opening the Oxford Campus Store next door in 1996.

“I enjoy negotiating a good deal and putting the stock out at good prices so I have liked the fact that we have catered for people with that.”

The shop has undergone several changes with the Covid pandemic affecting this.

The stock is currently reduced ahead of the closure. (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Moss added: “We originally had a café which served the hotel above us but with all of the cafés open in Oxford, we found trade went down as it was spread too thinly.

“We also opened up a Harry Potter shop here which was on vogue for the time but loads more shops followed suit.

“During the pandemic things were terrible so we opened up the outlet store and sold the stock we had with our suppliers passing on their stock too to sell and we have now come to the end of that."

Ms Moss has revealed her plans for the future of the building with a new shop lined up to replace The Oxford Outlet Store.

“It is good news as we have made enough from the sales to refurb the shop and open a different kind of gift shop with literary gifts as an addition," she said. 

The stock inside of The Oxford Outlet Store. (Image: Newsquest)

“We haven’t quite decided on a name yet as we have to get permission from Oxford University as we will be selling a lot of their products so we are trying to get a name to represent that.

“As times have changed we’ve evolved to try and make the most of the customers who have been around at the time and we are doing that again.

“I think tourism is definitely back at its highest level since the pandemic so we are trying to make the most of that.”

The new shop is expected to land in time for Easter, with opening planned for the end of March.