Stationery retailer, bookseller and newsagent TG Jones is closing two stores today as part of a major restructuring plan. The branches in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and Marlborough, Wiltshire, are shutting their doors for good today, October 17.
The company, which has around 450 stores across the UK, is reducing that number by 150 after warning earlier this year that it could face insolvency if its restructuring plan was not approved.
Closures continue next week
Early next week, customers will say goodbye to the TG Jones locations in West Wickham, Stratford Upon Avon and Ormskirk. The restructuring plan, which is seeing a total of 23 stores closed this month alone, was approved by the High Court in early July.
A spokesperson for the company told the Watford Observer: “We know this will be disappointing news for our colleagues, customers, and the local community. Our focus now is on supporting those affected and continuing to serve customers throughout the closure period. We would like to thank all of our colleagues for their commitment and the contribution they have made to TG Jones.”
History of the chain
The chain was renamed to TG Jones last year after being bought by Modella Capital, while WH Smith kept its group of stores in travel locations such as airports and train stations. Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna first established WH Smith in 1792 in Little Grosvenor Street in Mayfair as a news vendor.
After their deaths, the business was taken over by youngest son William Henry Smith in 1812 and it continued to expand throughout the 19th century. The final member of the Smith family left the board in 1996 and the company decided to split the travel stores with those on the high street, selling off the latter to Modella last year.
Full list of TG Jones stores closing in October
Bishop’s Stortford – October 3
Bury St Edmunds – October 3
Inverness – October 6
Malvern – October 6
Truro – October 10
Maldon High Street – October 9
Melton Mowbray – October 10
Dorking – October 10
Bradford – October 11
Wickford High Street – October 12
Leek – October 12
Bridgnorth High Street – October 13
Hythe High Street, Kent – October 13
Pinner – October 14
Coney Street, York – October 14
Rickmansworth High Street – October 17
Marlborough High Street – October 17
West Wickham High Street – October 19
Stratford Upon Avon – October 20
Ormskirk – October 21
Orpington – October 28
Droitwich – October 31
Billericay – October
