Joplings

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Joplings is a department store, located in Sunderland, England.

Joplings is part of the Owen Owen group of department stores. The store was established in 1804. In December 1954 the store burnt down and operated from temporary space until its present purpose-built building opened in 1956.

In early 2005 the store was purchased from its previous owners Merchant Retail Group plc along with Robbs of Hexham by Liverpool based Owen Owen Ltd. for £5 million^[1] and another three million for stock.^{[citation needed]}

Following the takeover Owen Owen held a huge sale prompting fears that the store may close. David Thompson, the owner of Owen Owen, has assured that for customers it will be business as usual.

Currently Joplings is seen as Sunderland's leading department store, and arguably has the one of the finest menswear department in the city.^{[citation needed]} Other departments which have recently been popular with customers include Sound & Vision, Wines and Spirits and The Christmas Department.

In February 2007 Owen Owen Ltd went into receivership^[2] putting the future of the store into doubt, although it continues to trade for the time being.