As already mentioned, the signs were on the wall for a long time. I made it a habbit to pop into the Plymouth store everytime i was there. Hardly ever was there there anybody else in the shop. And over time the stock became so low that the more common sizes (me, i think) were not available anymore. Staff couldn't even tell you when new stock was expected. Now we know why.
I also found HG generally a bit expensive and used to take advantage when offers were available. I suppose people like me didn't help their cause. I even ordered recently some boots from their german site, saving over a hundred quit. It does not help if the parent company undermines their own subsideries either.
Over the years i have spend a lot of money at HG and never regretted a single buy. Good stuff.
Shame, first GW now HG gone. Where do i go now when the wife is shopping in Plymouth?
I remember going all the way to the Gericke shop in Cologne when it opened back in the early 80's i think. Was a sensation back then because suddenly biking gear was not just black anymore. It had become fashionable and acceptable. Gericke was always part of my biking life.

Crying shame

Rob