An 88-year-old retail giant disappears from Britain's high street

The last remaining BHS stores will close their doors for the final time this weekend, marking the end of the retail giant's 88-year history.The retail giant is set to close the remaining 22 stores over the Bank Holiday weekend that are left in its network, which included more than 150 stores across the UK earlier this year.British Homes Stores, which opened its first store in London's Brixton neighbourhood in 1928, was placed into administration in March but failed to find a buyer.Administrators Duff & Phelps have already shut 141 stores over recent weeks, including the company's flagship store on London's Oxford Street.Up to 11,000 jobs and 22,000 pensions have been affected as a result of the BHS collapse. The company's previous owners, Dominic Chappell and Sir Philip Green, were criticised by MPs for mismanaging the chain and failing to protect the company pension scheme.Aparliamentary inquiry accused Green of extracting significant sums of money from BHS and failing to address a 571 million deficit in the company's pension fund.Green is spending the summer on his luxury yacht. He is offering to plug a gap in the company's pension hole if the probe is dropped, according to Sky News.Green, the chairman of the Arcadia group, which also owns Topshop, sold BHS to Chappell in March for 1 even though he had once declared himself bankrupt and had next to no experience of running a large retail company.BHS has failed to innovate and keep up with the competition over the last two decades, giving the chain a jaded feel. The owners have been criticised for failing to put the money in that BHS needed.MPs criticised billionaire Green in a report for being "the "unacceptable face of capitalism". He could be stripped of his knighthood.The closure of the final 22 stores will be a big blow to some of the towns that considered the retailer a key department store in their area.The final 22 stores to close are:ExeterSurrey Quays, LondonSt Enoch Centre, GlasgowMetrocentre, Tyne and WearYorkMerryhill, West MidlandsRomford, EssexHarrow, north west LondonDoncasterWalthamstow, east LondonUxbridge, west LondonBexleyheath, KentLeicesterNorwichBelfastKingston, SurreyHanley, StaffordshireSt James, NorthamptonSwanseaWood Green, north LondonCribbs Causeway, BristolSt Albans, HertfordshireJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: A self-made millionaire describes the financial mistakes to avoid if you want to get rich by 30
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