A popular charity shop that has been at the heart of Armagh city’s highstreet for more than 18 years has announced its regrettable closure next month.
The Cancer Research charity store on Scotch Street has for almost two decades been a popular and well-supported destination for well-meaning bargain hunters and thrifters.
Each and every person who donated or shopped in the store has helped, over those years, to contribute to vital research into cancer treatment.
However, in October of last year Cancer Research as an organisation announced a “big change” to their retail operations due to “rising costs, inflationary pressures, and changing consumer habits”.
In a statement at the time, the organisation said that retail had played a critical role in our mission – delivering over £225m in contribution over the last 10 years.
Changes between 2026 and 2027, mean Cancer Research will be reducing the size of their “core high street chain to around 320 high-performing shops”.
This means closing around 90 shops by May 2026, with up to 100 more by April 2027.
However, they are continuing to expand their network of out-of-town superstores, with 12 new stores set to open over the next two years.
Regrettably, the Armagh store has been identified as one earmarked for closure. With a closing sale now on instore, they anticipate to close their doors permanently on September 9.
Julie Byard, director of trading at Cancer Research UK said: “We are deeply grateful to our staff, volunteers and customers who have supported the Armagh shop at Scotch Street over the years. Their dedication and generosity have helped fund vital cancer research and made a real difference to people affected by cancer. We know the news will be difficult, and we want to thank everyone for the incredible contribution they’ve made to our mission.
“Like many high street retailers, we’re facing rising costs and changing shopping habits. To continue funding life-saving research at the scale that’s needed, we need to change.
“The decision to close the Armagh shop is part of a change to our retail chain – one that will help ensure we maximise the money we raise for life-saving cancer research. If we don’t act now, many of our shops are likely to become financially unsustainable over the next five years.
“The decision is not a reflection of the outstanding work of our local teams. It’s a necessary step to ensure Cancer Research UK remains resilient and focused on the future. We are working closely with everyone impacted and will support them through this change.
“While the Armagh shop may be closing, our commitment to beating cancer together remains stronger than ever.”
