Staff and customers say they were left in the lurch after a Watford store closed without notice.
Shuropody patients arrived at the atria Watford branch on Friday, July 5, to find a note on the door explaining that it had closed that day.
The store sells specialist comfortable footwear but also provides important podiatry services to people who rely on it.
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Store manager Leila Ruocco told the Watford Observer that someone simply walked into the branch at 9.05am and told them “pack everything up you are closed”. All stock was apparently moved out that day.
She described the treatment of staff as “disrespectful”, saying that they all “honestly have had no idea what is going on”.
“I think it’s disgusting how they have treated their customers as well," the 24-year-old added.
Leila Ruocco. (Image: Leila Ruocco)
The employee, who has worked for the business for five years, has apparently been told staff will be contacted over matters including redundancy pay but is currently unable to contact anyone from Shuropody.
Watford staff had been aware locations across the county were closing but did not realise theirs would be going so suddenly. They even lost access to the clinic system meaning they could not send out notices to patients.
Some regulars have used the location for 30 years, including when it was previously operating as Scholl.
Customer Steve Macauley, who had visited the previous week, said staff were booking people in for future dates as normal and thought everything was fine - before a friend told him she had arrived to find it closed last Monday.
Steve Macauley. (Image: Steve Macauley.)
“It was often full, it was very popular,” he said. “It’s disappointing, it was very convenient for me. I’ve been going there for two years and all was well.”
The 75-year-old added: “It was disrespectful to the customers. To show up and see the notice in the door... it's not a nice way to find out about it.”
Mr Macauley, from Garston, is now assessing alternative places he can visit for podiatry care in the area.
As far as the Watford branch staff are aware all Shuropody locations are now closed nationwide.
They are apparently discussing staying together to open their own podiatry business in Watford town centre.
Shuropody has been contacted for comment. The brand went into administration in 2022 but was ultimately bought by an investor that year.
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