A major Plymouth city centre shop faces the threat of closure as the national chain BHS goes into administration.
The high street retailer's announcement today puts 11,000 jobs and 164 stores at risk across the country– including its large outlet in Armada Way.
After 88 years of trading, British Homes Stores' financial predicament ranks as the biggest retail failure since Woolworths went bust in 2008 with the loss of 30,000 jobs.
In a statement, administrators Duff & Phelps said: "The group (BHS) has been undergoing restructuring and, as has been widely reported, the shareholders have been in negotiations to find a buyer for the business. These negotiations have been unsuccessful.
"In addition property sales have not materialised as expected in both number and value. Consequently, as a result of a lower-than-expected cash balance, the group is very unlikely to meet all contractual payments.
"The directors therefore have no alternative but to put the group into administration to protect it for all creditors. The group will continue to trade as usual whilst the administrators seek to sell it as a going concern."
The company's owner, Dominic Chappell, said he will continue to work with the administrators to "find a solution post the administration".
"No-one is to blame. It was a combination of bad trading and not being able to raise enough money from the property portfolio," he said. "In the end, we just couldn't reach an agreement with Arcadia over pensions."
BHS was bought last year by a consortium called Retail Acquisitions, headed by Mr Chappell, for £1 from retail entrepreneur Sir Philip Green, the owner of the Arcadia retail empire. BHS has debts of more than £1.3 billion, including a pension fund deficit of £571 million, which proved a major stumbling block in last-ditch rescue talks over the weekend.
Rival retailer Sports Direct is understood to want to some of BHS's 164 stores, but will only do so if it does not have to take on any pension liabilities.
Sir Philip is reported to have offered £80 million towards the cost of BHS pensions, though the regulator could still pursue further payment from the retail billionaire. Sir Philip bought BHS for £200million in 2000.
BHS is one of the UK's most recognised high-street brands but it has struggled against value fashion rivals and online shopping.
By 2016 the BHS Group was performing on average 1,000,000 transactions a week across 164 stores and 74 franchise stores across 18 countries – but struggling to be profitable.