SUSSAN is closing its Fremantle store after 40 years of trading.

A store staffer, who didn’t want to be identified, told the Chook high rents were to blame.

The national women’s retailer will close the High Street Mall shop by the end of June.

Its four staff  have been offered positions amongst Sussan’s 16 other WA stores.

“It’s sad, because we have a very loyal client base which we have built up over the years, but we couldn’t sell enough garments to cover the high rents,” the staffer told the Herald.

Extraordinarily high rents have claimed several businesses in High Street in recent years, including Dymocks, True Blue Gallery, Pure and Natural, Creative Native and Red Canvas.

Down in the West End, Pizza on High has just announced it’s bowing out too.