Mystery surrounds closure of popular cookie and ice cream shops in Crawley
Crawley shoppers have been left asking questions, after popular cookie and ice cream stores shut suddenly without warning.
Mystery is surrounding the sudden closure of Millie's Cookies and Baskin-Robbins in the County Mall.
A sign left outside reads: “Please note this store has permanently closed. Visit www.milliescookies.com to see our other store locations.”
This comes as Crawley prepares to lose another major retail name, with Decathlon set to close its Queens Square store later this month.
One shopper, posting in a Crawley community Facebook group, wrote: "Does anyone know why Millie's Cookies in the mall shut down? Was in there one day and the next day it was shut. No warning of it shutting down or anything. I'll be honest I used to love getting a cookie every time I went to town."
The post prompted numerous responses from other residents, many expressing surprise and disappointment at the closure while questioning what had happened.
Among them was Crawley Observer reader Ryan Robinson. He wrote: “Baskins and Millie’s were one of the original shops in the mall. Times are changing and I don’t like it.”
At the time of writing, neither Millie's Cookies, Baskin-Robbins nor County Mall has publicly announced the reason behind the closure.
The combined store had become a popular stop for shoppers visiting the town centre, offering freshly baked cookies alongside Baskin-Robbins ice cream.
The closure follows confirmation that global sporting goods retailer Decathlon will permanently close its Queens Square store, on July 24, after ten years in Crawley. A closing down sale is underway.
The world's largest sporting goods retailer, which operates more than 1,900 stores across 82 countries and regions, is currently holding a closing down sale ahead of shutting its doors for the final time.
The news was highlighted by Duncan Crow, Crawley borough councillor, Conservative Group leader and former West Sussex county councillor for Tilgate & Furnace Green.
He said: "It's a huge loss for the town centre which, outside of County Mall, appears to be an increasing struggle for retailers."
Meanwhile, the closure of Millie's Cookies and Baskin-Robbins means shoppers have lost another familiar high street brand, although it remains unclear why the store shut or whether another retailer will take over the unit.
Millie's Cookies is a chain of retail bakeries based, specialising in cookies, muffins, hot drinks and gifts.
Its website reads: “Since we first opened in 1985, our ovens have been baking fresh cookies all day every day. We now have over 40 stores across the UK and in each of our kitchens you'll find a wide range of cookie treats featuring everything from cookie cupcakes to signature loaded cookies to hand-iced giant cookies, all made with our great care by our fantastic Millie’s team!”
Baskin-Robbins, Inc. is an American multinational chain of ice cream and cake specialty shops owned by Inspire Brands. It has another branch at Cineworld in Crawley Leisure Park.