Jobs blow as Zavvi closes Athlone store

The troubled music and entertainment chain Zavvi, which employed 15 staff, has closed its Athlone branch. The Westmeath Independent understands that ongoing discussions with rival music and entertainment chain HMV have been taking place regarding the possibility of HMV taking over Zavvi"s Athlone Towncentre branch. These talks are currently 'at a delicate stage,' according to an industry source. Yesterday (Tuesday) an announcement that Zavvi in Athlone had closed was posted in the store window as staff worked within to empty stock off the shelves. The local branch, along with Zavvi"s ten other Irish stores, had been in provisional liquidation since December 30 last. Originally opened as a Virgin Megastore outlet, the store was taken over by new owners and was rebranded as Zavvi early in 2008. Last week HMV announced that it had purchased five of Zavvi"s Irish stores, but the Athlone branch was not among those five outlets. It was stated that Zavvi staff at the five stores which were purchased by HMV - in Dundalk, Limerick, Newbridge, Dundrum and Dublin"s Liffey Valley - would transfer to the new owner. The closure of the Zavvi store in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin was also announced last week, involving the loss of 13 jobs. Zavvi Ireland went into provisional liquidation shortly after Christmas as a result of the loss of its primary supplier, coupled with decreased sales resulting from the overall decline in consumer spending. When the liquidation process began, it was reported that the eleven Irish stores faced debts to creditors of €11m. Consumers with Zavvi gift vouchers have been asked to write to the provisional liquidator, David Hughes of Ernst & Young, to register a claim against the company. Attempts by the Westmeath Independent to contact Mr Hughes for a comment were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.