A clothes retailer in a UK town has announced it is closing after 170 years due to ‘market conditions’. Coneys has been in Boston, Lincolnshire, since 1856.

In a social media post, the company said they gave “a heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful customers for your support over the many years we’ve been trading in Boston”. Staff said the store was closing due to “market conditions,” but leadership hasn’t confirmed the exact reason. Its exact closure date is unknown and depends on stock levels. The leader of Boston Borough council, Dale Broughton, said he was “sorry to see a valued Boston business close, especially one in the heart of our town centre that has so much history within the borough”. “Sadly, we know that this reflects the difficult retail environment being felt across the country, with increasing shifts in shopping trends and the impact of cost of living on running costs and spending habits,” he added.

Broughton said that the council is working to support employees and businesses in an effort to “revitalise” Boston’s town centre.

Coneys has two other branches in Lincoln and Spalding. It moved into the current Boston property in 1956, expanding into surrounding properties until it reached its current size.

This comes after another department store closed in the town in 2020 after 216 years of business. Oldrids had been unprofitable for “several years”, according to leadership.

According to the Centre for Retail Research, 54 retailers collapsed in 2025, resulting in the loss of 3,080 stores and 30,153 employees.

Meanwhile, over 500 bank branches closed for good due to an ongoing shift of customer behaviour, with an increasing number of people choosing to bank online or use mobile app services.

The Original Factory Shop, LK Bennett, Claire’s, SilkFred, Fired Earth, Coopers of Beccles, Parravani’s Ice Cream, Roberts Bakery, Urban Legend, eBuyer, Bodycare, Baltic Bakehouse, and SOS Wholesale all announced administration in the second half of 2025