A high street store will close for good next week after almost 30 years of trading.
TG Jones, formerly WH Smith, will close its Wickford branch at 45-47 High Street on Monday, October 12, after almost 30 years in the town centre.
The closure is part of a UK-wide restructuring plan that has already shut branches in Basildon, Southend and Maldon, with Billericay next.
A TG Jones spokesman announced the closure last month, saying: "As part of our work to secure the long-term future of TG Jones, we have confirmed that our Wickford store will close.
"We appreciate this will be disappointing news for our colleagues, customers, and the local community.
"Our priority now is supporting those affected colleagues while continuing to serve our customers until the store closes.
"We would like to thank our colleagues in Wickford for their valued contribution to TG Jones."
The Wickford store is holding a closing-down sale, with cards reduced by 70 per cent, books by 60 per cent and stationery by 50 per cent.
Wickford Together, the town’s business improvement district, has urged residents to support the branch in its final days.
A spokesman said: "We’re very sad to share that TGJones will be closing its doors next Monday.
"We know the store has been a familiar part of Wickford for many, and we’d love to encourage our community to show the team some support during their final week.
"If you’re passing by, please pop in, have a browse and help us give TGJones a warm send-off as they prepare to say goodbye."
The company blamed falling sales, rising operating costs and changing consumer habits for the closures. It also blamed the rebrand from WH Smith to TG Jones for hitting sales.
It also said that the rebranding from WH Smith to TG Jones had hit sales.
The closures follow a restructuring plan approved by the High Court in July, which is expected to result in about 150 store closures and affect hundreds of jobs.
Private equity firm Modella Capital bought the high street branches from WH Smith in 2025 before rebranding them as TG Jones.
TG Jones operates around 450 stores and employs about 4,700 people, mostly in the UK, although it has not confirmed how many jobs the closures will affect.
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