Shoppers have raised fears about losing their place to buy magazines and use the post office in Reading, as the TG Jones in the town could be at risk of closure.
The WHSmith in Broad Street was renamed TG Jones in June last year after Modella Capital purchased 480 stores.
However, just over a year on, it has been announced that up to 150 stores could close due to operating losses and debts.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service went to the TG Jones store in Broad Street on Friday, July 10, to speak to people about the risk the store could close.
There was a steady stream of customers coming into and out of the shop, which also hosts a Post Office, with some ‘best value’ offers that shoppers could make use of.
Michael Bain, from Newbury, said he visits the store weekly to buy magazines.
He said: “I didn’t know about the closure news, but I can’t say I’m too surprised, with the business climate as it is at the moment.
“Probably the rent is too high, I expect; I’m always moaning about the car park prices because of what they charge.”
Susan Arstall, 78, said: “I live in West Reading, so I do my regular shopping here.
“I just bought the newspaper, magazines, stationery. I don’t usually buy books. I buy them at Waterstones.
“I would miss it if it wasn’t there.
“The only alternative is Ryman’s. I quite like supporting them, but it’s a bit more out of the way, and I can’t walk so far anymore.”
A main concern would be the loss of the Post Office in the store, which would leave only the post office at the upper level of Broad Street Mall.
Mrs Arstall said: “There was a post box in St Mary Butts, which they closed not long ago.
“So that’s a problem.
“You can go to Broad Street Mall where they are very friendly, but it is more a traditional post office.
“I came here [the Post Office in TG Jones] the other day, every single automatic machine was broken. And there was a queue a mile long because they don’t have the staff.”
Another person who was seen by a newspaper was Chris Green, who lives in South Reading.
He said: “I think one of the most bonkers decisions I have ever heard of was changing the name from WHSmith, which everybody knew from their childhood, including me.
“I don’t know what the commercial justification was, but I presume it’s some corporate thing that had to be done to comply with contracts and things.”
He mentioned that he occasionally buys books from the store.
The high street stores had to be renamed as the WHSmith brand was not included in the purchase deal. The WHSmith name is retained at travel locations, including Reading Station.
On the rebranding, Mr Green said: “You get a brand, you get a reputation, and it’s a valuable commercial asset. I don’t know whether they could have avoided changing the name.”
He then pointed out a flag sign outside the store that mentions WHSmith has rebranded to TG Jones.
Mr Green said: “The brand does not have sufficient self-confidence to just stand on its own feet.”
Anna Davey also thought it would be regrettable if TG Jones was lost.
She said: “I don’t buy online, for me, it would be bad if it closed.
“I do buy things there [TG Jones] now and again.
“I live in walking distance of the town centre, so this is where I do my main shop, not food shopping, but I do go to the post office and buy clothes.”
Mrs Davey then mentioned the former Post Office in Market Place, which closed in May 2019.
Mrs Davey said: “I remember it very well. The queues used to be enormous.
“It would be a real shame if it [the Post Office] were to go, or any shop to go so far as I’m concerned.”
Another shopper, Peter Chu, said: “I go here every day! I need to send parcels so I use the Post Office.
“Maybe I’d buy a book, but seldom. If it closed, it would not be convenient.
“Sometimes I would go to Broad Street Mall, but more often it’s this one.”
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central who represents the area, said: “It is important for the town centre to have a very wide range of shops and I am concerned about the future of TG Jones and the post office upstairs in the store.
“I am calling on the owners of TG Jones to rethink and invest in the business.
“It is also really important that there is a post office in the town centre and I will raising this with the Post Office.”
Mr Rodda previously campaigned with Lisa Nandy, Labour MP for Wigan, against the move of the Post Office to WHSmith due to concerns over job losses and disabled access.
A spokesperson for TG Jones was unable to provide an update on the status of the Broad Street store at the time of writing.
