The Meneage Street branch in Helston will close on 16 September, with the Southend-on-Sea store following on 26 September. Both former WH Smith shops have been rebranded as TG Jones and are now running clearance sales with "everything must go" notices in their windows.
The closures come after WH Smith's high street arm was sold and rebranded as TG Jones. The new owners have confirmed that roughly 150 other TG Jones locations are currently under review, leaving their future uncertain.
Closing down sales
Signs in the Helston window advertise large reductions and warn shoppers that "once it's gone, it's gone". The final day of trading at that branch is expected to be Wednesday, 16 September.
The site has decades of retail history, having operated as WH Smith for almost 30 years and, before that, as John Menzies until a corporate buyout in 1998. The retailer was recently saved from insolvency after plans were approved, but continues to face what it describes as "challenging retail conditions" affecting high street performance.
Company statements
A spokesman for TG Jones said: "As part of our work to secure the long-term future of TG Jones, we have confirmed that our Helston store will close. We appreciate this will be disappointing news for our colleagues, customers and the local community. Our priority now is on supporting those affected colleagues while continuing to serve our customers until the store closes. We would like to thank our colleagues in Helston for their valued contribution to TG Jones."
In a similar statement about the Southend store, the company said: "As part of our work to secure the long-term future of TG Jones, we have confirmed that our Southend store will close. We appreciate this will be disappointing news for our colleagues, customers and the local community. Our priority now is on supporting those affected colleagues while continuing to serve our customers until the store closes. We would like to thank our colleagues in Southend for their valued contribution to TG Jones."
