WHSmith is shutting two shops TODAY as chain vanishes from high streets with huge closing down sales launched
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TWO WHSmith stores will vanish from our high streets today as part of a major shake-up.
Both stores are holding mega 75 per cent off closing down sales, so shoppers better get in there quick.
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The stationery retailer has said it will close up to 20 stores in the coming weeks after it agreed to sell off nearly 500 of its high street shops.
First to go are the stores in Halstead in Essex, and Woolwich in London, which will be shutting up shop today.
The other stores are closing later in April, May, or July.
These are all the dates we've had confirmed so far:
- Halstead, Essex - April 12
- Woolwich, London - April 12
- Halesowen, West Midlands - April 19
- Diss, Norfolk - April 19
- Newport, Wales - April 26
- Haverhill, Suffolk - April 26
- Oldham, Greater Manchester - May 3
- Stockton, County Durham - May 17
- West Mall, Frenchgate Centre Doncaster - May 31
- Bedford, Bedfordshire - July 5
Several of these stores are currently holding closing down sales.
Halesowen and Diss have a huge 75 per cent off sale, and staff say the stock is selling fast.
Newport, Haverhill, Stockton, and Oldham also have 50 per cent off sales taking place.
The Sun previously approached WHSmith for comment.
So far, 10 WHSmith stores have closed this year.
They were:
- Bournemouth Old Christchurch Road, Dorset
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- March, Cambridgeshire
- Basingstoke, Hampshire
- Long Eaton
- Newtown, Powys
- Winton branch in Bournemouth, Dorset
- Rhyl, Denbighshire
- Bolton, Greater Manchester
- Accrington, Lancashire
The closures mark the beginning of the end of a 233-year stint on the high street for WHSmith.
Earlier this year, it put its entire high street estate up for sale as it focuses instead on its more profitable travel arm.
Its remaining 480 high-street stores were snapped up by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital last month as part of a £76 million deal.
The move saved the jobs of roughly 5,000 employees.
However, the famous WHSmith name is set to be lost to the high street as the shops will be gradually rebranded to TGJones.
WHSmith stores will remain in airports, train stations and hospitals, and the retailer is planning to expand here.
The brand opened its first shop in 1792 in Little Grosvenor Street, London, later becoming the UK's main newspaper distributor.
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