A BRITISH card and stationary chain has closed 22 stores across the UK this month.
Prior to closing, the shops launched “everything must go” sales in hopes of shifting the last of the stock.
TG Jones, formerly known as WHSmith, has over 400 stores around the UK but is set to close 150 of its branches in a major restructure.
The company has closed 22 of these locations in October alone, with more to follow before the end of the year.
Prior to this round of closures, September saw the stationary giant cease operations in at least 19 branches.
For many locations, this has meant that the post offices that reside within the store have also been forced to close.
The full list of closures in October are as follows:
- Bishop’s Stortford – October 3
- Bury St Edmunds – October 3
- Inverness – October 6
- Malvern – October 6
- Truro – October 6
- Maldon – October 9
- Melton Mowbray – October 10
- Bradford – October 11
- Wickford – October 12
- Leek -October 12
- Bridgnorth – October 13
- Hythe High Street, Kent – October 13
- Pinner – October 14
- Coney Street, York – October 14
- Rickmansworth – October 17
- Marlborough – October 17
- West Wickham – October 19
- Stratford High Street – October 20
- Ormskirk – October 21 –
- Orpington – October 28
- Droitwich – October 31
The TG Jones in Billericay is also expected to cease operations, but the exact closure date has not been made clear.
The retail store at 17 Victoria Square in Droitwich is one of the most notable closures as it opened way back in 1929 and was only a few years shy of being at the location for 100 years.
This closure is one branch among many that are closing their doors, as the company has been shuttering stores up and down the UK.
Earlier this year, on July 1, TG Jones’s owners were granted approval for a company-wide restructure and announced it would be axing 150 UK stores.
This move was regarded as a last-ditch attempt to save the brand from administration.
As part of the restructuring plans, rent cuts are also taking place at other branches.