A CATALOGUE discount store based on Accrington's Eastgate Retail Park has been forced to close due to a slump in trade.
CBS, which is part of Bargain Crazy, a subsidiary of March UK Ltd, will stop trading next month and its 24 staff will be made redundant.
All four units on the retail park were snapped up when it opened in 1998 but the forthcoming departure of CBS will leave two empty stores on the site.
Car accessory giant Halfords left the retail park in 2001 following a huge blaze started by an arsonist and the unit has remained empty ever since.
CBS itself was affected by the fire, which caused millions of pounds-worth of damage, but it later re-opened.
Hyndburn Council had high hopes for the edge-of-town stores complex but now the only ones left are Netto and Poundstretcher.
There has been much criticism of Accrington having too many cut-price outlets. But the town's business community is hopeful that a new company will be attracted to the site.
Mr Michael Whewell, a committee member of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, said: "It is always disappointing when a retailer closes down and moves out of the town. I would hope that the owners of the premises will be able to market them successfully and someone will be able to take over."
A spokesperson for Bargain Crazy said: "The decision to close the store has been taken due to poor trading and the costs associated with a large format store. The business has tried to improve performance in the past by trialling three new formats without success.
"It is stressed that this is in no way related to the performance of the management or colleagues in this store. Job search assistance will be offered to colleagues and alternative employment within other stores and other parts of the company will be investigated.".
