David Jones will close 19 department stores
By Liezl GambeKey points
- David Jones will shut down 19 stores across Australia and New Zealand before the end of 2026.
- FTI Consulting initiated a seven-day employee consultation process across the affected retail locations.
- The receivers stated that the restructuring is necessary to keep the department store viable.
Department store operator David Jones will close 19 retail locations across Australia and New Zealand by the end of 2026 as part of a formal restructuring programme.
The planned shutdowns follow the recent appointment of receivers FTI Consulting to oversee operations and stabilise the business.
"The receivers recognise the restructure will have a material impact on many individual members of the David Jones team and commit to treating all employees with fairness and respect throughout the process," said FTI Consulting.
The planned closures include seven sites in New South Wales, three in Victoria, three in Western Australia, two in Queensland, two in South Australia, one in the Australian Capital Territory, and one in Newmarket, New Zealand.
Receivers stated that the operational cuts are necessary to support long-term commercial sustainability.
Anchor Properties sold the retail chain to private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners in 2023 following a period of declining department store foot traffic.
The brand had previously shrunk its floor space, sold its prime Sydney and Melbourne flagship properties, and reduced its suburban store footprint to lower operating costs.
