The stationery and book retailer is closing its branch in Stockton at noon today with the closure of the Wellington Square site coming as the retailer works to wind down its high street store estate.
WHSmith is closing another town centre branch today, which has forced a Post Office branch to close alongside it.
The stationery and book retailer is closing its branch in Stockton at noon today. The closure of the Wellington Square site comes as the retailer works to wind down its high street store estate.
Last month, WHSmith agreed to sell its UK high street chain to investment firm Modella Capital in a deal valuing £76 million. The majority of its stores will eventually rebrand as TG Jones. However, a large number of them will shut down.
The retailer is switching its business model to focus only on its travel branches, which are located in airports and train stations. These sites will remain open and continue to trade as WHSmith.
Overall, the retailer had around 480 high street stores, compared to 1,200 travel sites across 32 countries. WHSmith says its travel arm accounted for 85% of group profits.
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The Stockton WhSmith also had a Post Office attached to it, which will also be closing. The Post Office confirmed the news and said it was “working hard to restore service to the community”. However, according to local reports, the site may not be relocated.
When asked about this, a Post Office spokesperson told TeesideLive: “Stockton Post Office is unfortunately closing on Saturday May 17 at 12 noon as WHSmith has made the difficult decision to close the store where the branch has been based.
“We are working hard to restore service to the community. We have an interested retailer. A public consultation exercise will be completed when we are ready to announce our proposal.
“In the interim alternative branches include Bishopton Road which is 0.5 miles away, Norton Hill (1.1 miles) and Norton, which is 1. 8miles away and offers the full range of Post Office services as Stockton. For details of opening hours and services available please visit”
WhSmith has closed a number of its high street stores since the start of April, with seven having pulled down the shutters for good. Two more are set to close over the coming weeks with the chain’s site in Doncaster closing on May 31 and its branch in Bedford going on July 5.
WHSmith store closures
- 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
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