The Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the cost of living crisis have also played a part in pushing shops to close and businesses to fail. Commercial Road remains one of Portmouth’s shopping hot-spots, but the high street has changed dramatically over the years.
From long-standing businesses such as U-Need-Us – which shut in 2019 after nearly 96 years – to more recent closures like Geek Retreat, there are a striking number of vacant units in the city centre.
We’ve put together a list of 17 shop buildings which are currently sit vacant or awaiting development in the city centre.
From long-standing businesses such as U-Need-Us – which shut in 2019 after nearly 96 years – to more recent closures like Geek Retreat, there are a striking number of vacant units in the city centre.
![JD Sports has moved from its previous Commercial Road adress to a new location - 222-224 Commercial Road - leaving the former empty.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRmYTI4ODVlLWRiZTUtNDU5My1hNmQ4LTBkMjY5MGUxOTlhMTpkNmU5ZTE5MS04OWI5LTQ3ZjgtYTA5NC1hMDFhZTA3Njc0OTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
17. JD Sports - Commercial Road
JD Sports has moved from its previous Commercial Road adress to a new location - 222-224 Commercial Road - leaving the former empty. Photo: -
![There are at least 8 empty units in the Cascades Shopping Centre including Fabric Land, Sonner Toys, Dorothy Perkins and the Every Cloud vape shop. Discount eyewear store Brillen is set to close this month.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhiZmI0ZTBhLWEyOWMtNGRiNS1hODc2LTA1NWM1YjgyMjg0ZjpkMmE2ZWFmNS1lY2U4LTQ0ZjQtODA5Mi03NTkwMjhmNTgzOTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
18. Empty units - Cascades Shopping Centre
There are at least 8 empty units in the Cascades Shopping Centre including Fabric Land, Sonner Toys, Dorothy Perkins and the Every Cloud vape shop. Discount eyewear store Brillen is set to close this month. Photo: -