A shop that has been obscured by hoarding and scaffolding on a busy Birmingham street for at least two years is closing down. The Works, which sells books, stationery, craft items and more next door to the Odeon on New Street, has had its frontage surrounded by construction materials since at least the summer of 2022, judging by our photographs and Google Street View images. The unit, which was formerly a branch of fashion brand Select, is sandwiched between the cinema and a former Thomas Cook store.
Thomas Cook closed in 2019 and the shop has remained unoccupied since then, with scaffolding reaching up towards the top of the building and above The Works. The Works had since placed signage up around the hoarding, asking customers to 'please pop in', reassuring them 'we're still open'. However new signs tell customers 'sorry, we are closing, everything must go'.
Read more: 'Most expensive' item at Birmingham German Market now 50% off as traders slash prices Sign up for the Brum Food Club free weekly newsletter for updates on what's happening in the city's food and drink scene . BirminghamLive has contacted The Works to find out more about the closure. The nearest store to the city centre, signage advises, is Harborne High Street.
The Works in Birmingham (Image: Kirsty Bosley) The Works has more than 500 branches in the UK and Ireland and in the full year of 2024, says it opened nine new stores. Twenty four stores were closed, which The Works says is made up of 'mostly loss-mak.