Seven TGJones stores across south-west Wales are facing the chop.
Up to 150 stores nationwide are set to close under a major restructuring plan announced by the chain’s owner – with hundreds of jobs at risk.
The stores affected by the decision include some of the most familiar names on south-west Wales high streets:
- The Quadrant Shopping Centre, Swansea
- Wind Street, Neath
- Parc Trostre Retail Park, Llanelli
- The Rhiw, Bridgend
- Guildhall Square, Carmarthen
- High Street, Tenby
- Riverside Quay, Haverfordwest
It has not yet been confirmed which individual stores will close.
But the announcement leaves staff at all seven branches facing a nervous wait.
The chain – formerly WHSmith – operates 480 high street stores nationally, with 26 of them in Wales.
Private equity owner Modella Capital said the restructuring was an “essential part” of the company’s turnaround plan.
The firm bought the WHSmith high street business in March 2025 – a £40 million deal that did not include the WHSmith brand itself.
Stores were quickly rebranded under the new TGJones name – a name with no prior public recognition.
Modella Capital is now blaming that “forced” rebrand for damaging consumer awareness.
A spokesperson said the decision to close stores had not been taken lightly.
“While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers,” they said.
The company also blamed rising operating costs “as a direct result of government policy” and recent “geopolitical events.”
“The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come,” the spokesperson added.
Modella Capital said no final decisions had yet been made about the impact on staff, and the company was aiming to preserve “as many jobs as possible.”
“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles,” the spokesperson said.
The TGJones restructure comes hot on the heels of another high-profile Modella Capital collapse.
The private equity firm shut all 154 UK and Ireland Claire’s stores last month – putting around 1,300 staff out of work.
Modella Capital placed Claire’s into administration after what it called an “alarmingly” low Christmas trading period.
It has now committed more than £35 million for the TGJones restructuring effort.
For Swansea shoppers, the timing is grim.
The Quadrant store sits within a shopping centre already undergoing significant change. The Quadrant’s former Debenhams anchor unit was bought by Swansea Council after the chain’s collapse, stripped out, and recently sold to the centre’s new owners Centurion Group, with three major new tenants expected to be confirmed.
And Swansea’s flagship Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street is due to close on 30 May – meaning the city centre will lose yet another major retailer in the same month TGJones announces its restructuring.
The Carmarthen store on Guildhall Square is similarly prominent in the town’s main retail area, while the Neath, Llanelli, Bridgend, Tenby and Haverfordwest branches all anchor parts of their respective high streets.
The full list of which TGJones stores will close is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
