By Beverly Rademacher

Copyright expressandstar

The fashion chain has said agreements were reached between the landlords and the company at both stores – to keep them both open as the beleaguered business battles to reign in costs.

The update comes after the closure of River Island’s flagship Wolverhampton city centre store which shut its doors for a final time on Friday September 19.

As part of a court approved restructuring plan, aimed at preventing the business from going into administration, the fashion chain sought some shop closures and rent reductions at 71 including a move to pay zero rent on some of its stores including the iconic Wolverhampton shop which has a unique exterior with floor-to-ceiling glass frontages and a distinctive glassed tower.

The building will now stand empty alongside its neighbour Marks and Spencer which is also closing this weekend on Saturday after nearly 100 years of trading in the city.

River Island has declined to comment on how many staff lost their jobs at the Wolverhampton store.

A spokesman added that it would provide an update on the Stafford Riverside branch of River Island “in due course” – adding that “employees will be kept informed as soon as there is further news”.

A drive to cut 100 head office roles was also announced as part of the restructuring plan, which was approved in August, following an earlier round of around 100 job cuts in January.

River Island also has stores in Walsall, West Bromwich, the Bullring in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Telford in Shropshire.