Just over 12 months after a major rebrand to one of Monmouth’s central shops, a stationary and newspaper vendor that has been on Monnow Street for decades is closing down.

W H Smith was one of Monmouth’s staple stores that for many years traded from the Cancer Research Shop location in Agincourt Square in the 1970s and was taken over and renamed T G Jones in a deal that cost £76m only last year.

But Modella Capital, the owner of TG Jones won approval this year for a sweeping restructuring which will see up to 150 shops out of 480 closed.

TG Jones in Monmouth
(Iliffe Media)

The iconic name of WH Smith still lives on in its travel business which operates in railway stations and airports, as well as hospitals, but the phrase “popping into Smiths” has now all but disappeared in the lexicon of the shopping world.

Less than a year after Modella rebranded the stationary arm of WH Smith, they announced a radical restructuring plan blaming "challenging retail conditions" claiming some of the problems were due to serious underinvestment in stores by the chain's previous owners.

A spokesperson for TG Jones said: “As we work to secure the long-term future of TG Jones, we have confirmed that our Monmouth store will close. We know this will be disappointing news for our colleagues, customers, and the local community.

“Our focus now is supporting those affected and continuing to serve customers throughout the closure period. We would like to thank all of our colleagues for their commitment and the contribution they have made to TG Jones.”

With the demise in Woolworths in 2008, the British shopper has seen a number of iconic names now disappear from the High Street.

Not all are from changing shopping habits with the advent, or curse whichever way you see it, of online shopping.

Woolworths’s closure was down to crippling debt, low cash reserves, and the impact of the 2008 financial crisis. The retailer also struggled with outdated large stores, tough competition from discount and online shops, and a drop in physical music and movie sales.

Burtons and Dorothy Perkins disappeared from high streets because their parent company, Arcadia Group, collapsed into administration in late 2020 due to slumping sales, high debts, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mothercare disappeared from the UK high street due to fierce online competition, underinvestment in digital sales, and heavy rent debts. Most shoppers agreed that it also suffered because its prices were too high compared to supermarkets and fast-fashion alternatives

Victoria Wine - commonly referred to as ‘Vicky Wines’ of which Monmouth had two stores,, disappeared due to corporate collapse, intense supermarket competition, and shifting consumer habits. The brand was phased out after its parent company hit severe financial trouble

Butchers shops Baxters and Dewhurst, who traded within a stone’s throw on Monnow Street have both gone.

Dewhurst butchers disappeared due to fierce supermarket competition, high operating costs, and final financial collapse in 2006, Baxters Butchers disappeared due to corporate buyouts, shifting retail ownership, and the eventual collapse of its parent meat company.

Clarks and Stead and Simpsons were once the leading retailer for shoes, Stead & Simpson and Simpsons disappeared due to corporate restructuring, financial losses, and changing consumer habits and Clarks has faced severe financial stress, resulting in widespread store closures and major job cut.

Don’t get me started on the banks.