The John Lewis Partnership has named the eight stores that it does not plan to reopen eight when lockdown restrictions ease next month. The retailer says it is rebalancing its store estate to reflect how customers want to shop, and has conducted substantial research on new shopping habits in different parts of the country.
The eight shops identified for closure include four ‘At Home’ shops in Ashford, Basingstoke, Chester and Tunbridge Wells and four department stores in Aberdeen, Peterborough, Sheffield and York. The eight shops were financially challenged prior to the pandemic, which has been a catalyst for the shift to online shopping, with 60-70% of John Lewis’ sales expected to be online in the future.
The remaining 34 John Lewis stores are due to reopen from April 12, with the exception of Glasgow, which will reopen from April 26, and Edinburgh, which will reopen on May 14.
John Lewis confirms that it will improve remaining stores, with more space dedicated to experiences and services, as well as testing new formats of smaller, local neighbourhood shops offering the best of John Lewis, plus introducing John Lewis ranges in more Waitrose shops.”
Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership acknowledged: “The high street is going through its biggest change for a generation and we are changing with it.”
Top: Façade of John Lewis York- the store on the outskirts of the city opened in 2014.
