Magrudy’s two branches closed for good

Dubai: Magrudy's has shut down its Deira City Centre and Dubai Mall branches.

The company's website stated that the branches shut shop "due to continuing rent increases".

Last month saw book lovers flock to the now closed branches, to avail themselves of store-wide discounts of 35 per cent on all items, with many books being given at throwaway prices of as little as Dh2.

Boarded up

Both stores have since boarded up, and the trademark smiling camel is nowhere to be seen.

While no immediate comment was available from Magrudy's, the company website stated: "We regret to inform you that due to continuing rent increases, we are no longer able to trade from our stores at Deira City Centre and The Dubai Mall. The nearest Magrudy's will now be our shops at Dubai Festival City and Jumeirah Beach Road respectively. Our other branches at Ibn Battuta Mall, Al Bawadi Mall in Al Ain and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi are also open as normal."

It is a bit ironic that Magrudy's decided to close its flagship store, that was set up in 2001, just before the Emirates airline Festival of Literature for which it is one of the main sponsors.

With its spacious layout, cushioned reading dome and a variety of books, this branch was the model on which succeeding Magrudy's stores were based.

Sangeeta S., a regular to the Deira City Centre branch is sad it had to close. "It was so convenient to shop here and the collection was also great. I did manage to pick some great bargains in the recent sale though," she said.

The other outlets, however, continue to operate as normal.

- The writer is an intern at XPRESS