A children’s play centre in Finchley is closing after 27 years, after its landlord decided not to extend its lease.
Gymboree has been based at the Finchley Road mall ever since it opened in the late 90s, but say they are leaving against their will.
In a letter to customers who book parent-child development classes, soft-play and music and art sessions for under 5s they wrote: “It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we have to share some very sad news.
“After 27 wonderful years, Gymboree will be closing its doors forever on Saturday, 19 December 2026.
“This is a message we never imagined we would have to write. For nearly three decades, Gymboree has been so much more than just a business.
“We have watched children grow, welcomed generations of families, celebrated countless birthdays and special occasions, and created memories that will stay with us forever.”
They added that it was not a decision they had chosen.
“Our landlord has decided not to extend our lease, meaning that, despite our hopes and efforts to continue, we have reached the end of the road.
“It is heartbreaking that after 27 years of dedication, hard work and commitment, circumstances beyond our control have brought this journey to an end.”
Before signing off as ‘The Gymboree Team’, they invited customers to use any sessions before the final closure and thanked them for their “loyalty and kindness”.
“Every visit, every birthday celebration, every smile, every kind word and every family who chose to spend their special moments with us has helped make Gymboree what it is today.
“Some of the little ones who first walked through our doors years ago are now grown-ups themselves.
“We leave with a mixture of sadness, gratitude and pride. Sadness that we have to say goodbye, gratitude for the wonderful families who have supported us, and pride in everything we have built together over these 27 years.
“Although the doors of Gymboree will close on 19 December, the memories, friendships and special moments will remain with us forever.”
They apologised for the delay in making the announcement and said despite their best efforts they were unable to reach the outcome they were hoping for.
The O2 Centre first opened in 1998 but is set to be bulldozed in the next 10 to 15 years as part of a major redevelopment of the centre, car park and former Homebase site.
Longstanding tenants Virgin Active quit the centre in September and will be replaced by an upmarket Third Space gym.
And the centre itself is undergoing a multi-million pound revamp to improve the signage, public areas and lay out at the mall — as managers say they want to broaden the mix of shops and leisure facilities.
The site has an Aldi, Waterstones, Sainsbury’s, Vue Cinema and a Nando’s but centre manager Ant Foran said last month it would “continue to invest and breathe new life into the O2 Centre, evolving it into a more vibrant space”.
“That means improving the public spaces, bringing forward new leisure and hospitality offerings, and creating a stronger mix of experiences for the local community.”
The O2 Masterplan ultimately plans to transform the 14-acre site into 1,800 new homes, shops, open spaces, food and drink outlets, a health centre, nursery, office space and a cinema.
O2 Centre owner Landsec has been approached for comment.
Finchley has seen plenty of change on its high streets in recent years — the community gathered in Finchley earlier this month to honour the fallen at a remembrance service. Elsewhere in north-west London, a new Aldi in Willesden is set to open on 26 November.
