David Jones to close three Western Australian stores amid restructuring

Administrators FTI Consulting announced that David Jones will close three of its five Western Australian locations – the flagship store on Hay Street in Perth, as well as outlets in Garden City and Carousel. The closures are part of a broader plan affecting 19 stores nationwide and are expected to be completed by the end of the year, though exact dates have not been set.

"Today, the receivers have made the difficult decision to proceed with an urgent restructure of the business, in line with management’s plan for the future of David Jones that was being worked on prior to the appointment," the receivers said.

The receivers added that the restructure will significantly affect many employees and pledged to treat staff fairly throughout the process. They argued the steps are necessary to keep David Jones viable and to give the company a better chance of a sustainable future.

David Jones chief executive Erica Berchtold, in a letter to suppliers obtained by The West Australian, said the retailer’s store portfolio no longer fits the business model and that the closures aim to create a financially sustainable network. She expressed gratitude to brand partners and acknowledged the difficulty of the news.

The remaining WA stores in Karrinyup and Claremont will stay open for now. While the exact number of job losses has not been disclosed, the retailer employs about 6,000 people nationwide. The affected stores are expected to remain open through the upcoming Black Friday sales period before ceasing trade.