JOYCE Mayne is set to close its Albury store, leading to the loss of about 30 jobs. 

Staff were told of the closure last week, but few details have been made available. 

It’s believed the franchise store, which is located next to its parent company Harvey Norman, will remain open for several weeks. 

Employees and staff at the Joyce Mayne head office did not want to comment on the closure yesterday.

Former employee Jake Casey said it would be sad to see the business go.

“It’s obviously sad to see the shop go down,” he said.

“They’ve been really good at getting younger people into the workforce.

“That’s going to be sadly missed.”

Emma Graham, who had worked at the Borella Road store for about 18 months, said the closure would be a loss to the area.

“It is sad, but it’s a competitive business,” she said.

“People are looking for the best price and if (Joyce Mayne) can’t offer that, they’re going to go elsewhere.”

Wayne Ritchie’s Skiers Edge will close it’s Dean Street store, with the premises listed for lease.

Joyce Mayne is part of the Borella Road shopping centre complex that opened in 2007 at a cost of $25 million.

The land was once a former greyhound track and was sold by Albury Council to Harvey Norman for $3.4 million in 2005.

Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce business manager Kathie Heyman said she did not know the reasons behind the closure, but said supporting local businesses over online stores was important.

“That helps to keep jobs in the local economy,” she said.

“Employing local people is important to businesses and the fabric of society.

“I know it’s easy to shop on the internet and purchase things, but you can still do that and purchase locally and keep jobs in the local economy.”

The announcement led to speculation Harvey Norman would expand its store.

The news comes more than two years after WOW Sight and Sound – which opened in the same year as Joyce Mayne – shut the doors of its Wagga Road store at Lavington.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian retail rose 5.2 per cent in July compared to last year.

But seasonally adjusted figures for electrical goods, furniture and houseware retail turnover show a decline from June to July this year.