The Ideal Home Department Store in Middlesbrough town centre is expected to open in August
Ideal Home Store is set to open at the former Marks and Spencer on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough
A new department store offering space for independent brands and businesses is set to open at the former Marks and Spencer in Middlesbrough town centre.
The Ideal Home Store is due to open at the Linthorpe Road site on Friday, August 28. The company website states it will offer quality clothing, shoes, beauty and furniture from “trusted UK and European designers”, as well as local artisan products, gifts and crafts.
More than 200 brands and 50 local artisan partnerships are involved in the store, says the website, across 80,000 sq ft of retail space. It will also feature a community café.
A post on the website states: “Our UK department store offers a diverse range of products and services tailored to meet the needs of every customer. From high-quality fashion apparel and accessories for men, women, and children to an extensive selection of homeware and furnishings, we aim to provide something for everyone.
“Shoppers can also explore our beauty and cosmetics section, featuring top brands and innovative skincare products. Our bustling café offers a delightful retreat within our UK department store, serving an array of freshly brewed coffees, artisan teas, and delectable sandwiches and pastries.”
The website states the store was founded to “revitalise the high street experience” in Middlesbrough. Teesside Live has contacted the company for further details.
The former M&S Linthorpe Road store was acquired by new owners in 2024, having remained vacant since the chain pulled out of the town the previous year. The shutters came down for the final time after 122 years, a move that left many Teesside shoppers devastated.
The building was put on the market one month after it closed. It was among many major shops which have closed on the town centre stretch.
Debenhams shut in 2021, House of Fraser closed in 2022 while Next, Boots and Millets followed suit in 2025.
Did you know you can make Teesside Live a preferred source of Teesside news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it by clicking here .
For the latest Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, sign up to our free newsletter