Eason is set to shut up shop at the end of January.

It is understood that the company aims to redeploy its 10 members of staff.

The DeCourcy Centre has already lost Tesco, its main anchor - which relocated to the Minorca area of town - and other high Street names, Semi Chem and Shop Electric.

The Carrick branch of Eason is one of two bound for closure early next year.

Eason has also closed one of its town centre stores in Ballymena.

A spokesperson for the bookseller said: “Eason & Son (NI) Ltd has confirmed that it will close two of its stores in the Irwin Centre, Portadown and the De Courcy Centre, Carrickfergus at the end of January 2009. As both stores are coming to the end of their respective leases the company took this opportunity to review its operations.

“Contributing to the decision to close the store at this time are a number of factors including high occupational costs such as rent and rates and the increasing development of large scale supermarkets and retail parks on stand alone sites. The company will make every effort to relocate staff to other locations.”

Eason will continue to operate 15 stores in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the store closure in Carrick, Jack Creighton, chairman of Carrickfergus Development Company, said: “This will be a huge loss to the town. It is very disappointing to see a store of that quality which has been here for so long closing down, but in the current economic climate, it is not surprising.

“With the regeneration of the town, we will just have to redouble our efforts to encourage other stores of a similar kind to Carrickfergus. No doubt, we will be able to attract a similar business as there is a need for that type of store in the town.”