News of Wilko facing administration - and 12,000 jobs under threat - is the latest blow to the retail world.
But Wearside has been hit by the departure of other famous names in the past, from Binns to Blacketts, and Somerfield to Woolworths.
All were captured on film by Echo photographers during their last days.
Here are nine Sunderland stores where we photographed shoppers and staff before they closed for good.
Have a browse and tell us which ones you grabbed one final deal at.
5. The staff at Kwik Save in Park Lane in 2003. It first opened as a supermarket 17 years earlier.
The staff at Kwik Save in Park Lane in 2003. It first opened as a supermarket 17 years earlier. | se
6. The Fawcett Street store had sales on for the last customers through the doors in 2004.
The Fawcett Street store had sales on for the last customers through the doors in 2004. | se
7. The last day at the Somerfield store in Pennywell in 2006.
The last day at the Somerfield store in Pennywell in 2006. | se
8. It was 15 years ago when Woolworths in Durham welcomed its last customers.
It was 15 years ago when Woolworths in Durham welcomed its last customers. | se