TG Jones High Street restructuring now has a date in Stourbridge: the store in The Ryemarket will close in January 2027. Aaron Powell, the centre manager, said the unit opposite Waitrose is already drawing interest as the shopping centre looks for what fills it next.
The branch has traded from the same spot for half a century, under Martins, John Menzies, WHSmith and later TG Jones. For customers who use it as a newsagent and bookshop, the closure ends a long local run at one of the centre’s larger units.
Aaron Powell and The Ryemarket
Powell said the centre is already in discussions with interested parties and that its focus is on securing a new occupier that complements the existing line-up. He also said the closure forms part of a wider programme of store closures across the UK under Modella Capital, and that he is awaiting formal notice to the landlord.
He said: "We have remained supportive and in regular contact with the company throughout its restructuring, hoping this would secure the future of a store that has served Stourbridge for over 50 years." He added: "Despite that process, the company has decided to close the branch. We are awaiting formal notice to the landlord."
Stourbridge shoppers react
John Davis said the unit has been a newsagent and bookshop there for many years and said it would be nice if the space stayed in that vein. Ian Davies said he uses it for the paper and magazines regularly and used to love it as a child when it was Martins, with records at the back of the store. He said the speakers were put up in 1982.
Katie Hazlett said she used to love going in for books, magazines and a drink. Richard Hopkins said he would like to see an M&S food hall take on the unit, while also saying M&S are doing well and expanding across the country.
Ryemarket unit future
For shoppers, the immediate change is the countdown to January 2027. After that, the centre will be trying to turn a familiar vacancy into a new tenant, and the main open question is which business takes the large unit opposite Waitrose.
