Lewis’s, the 154-year-old department store in Liverpool, will close in June with the loss of 200 jobs.

Lewis's, Liverpool

Source: Arthur John Picton/Flickr

Lewis’s has been on Liverpool’s Ranelagh Street since 1856.

Devastated staff were told the news yesterday after the landlord Merepark said the store needed to close for it to be developed into a hotel and retail complex.

Lewis’s has been on Liverpool’s Ranelagh Street since 1856. It used to be part of Sir Philip Green’s Owen Owen department store group.

Managing director of Virgo Retail, which runs the store, David Thompson said: “We would like to thank the generations of Liverpool people who have shopped with us over the years. Sadly these will be our final weeks.”

The closing down programme will start straight away, the retailer has £5m of stock to liquidate. It will also sell all of its fixtures and fittings.