Newcastle’s Jack Wills shop is among a number of the fashion chain’s stores which are closing down, it has emerged.
Sports Direct announced the closure of the store and four others in the Bluewater shopping centre, Oxford, Winchester and London Gatwick airport.
The news comes a month after Mike Ashley’s retail firm swooped for the fashion company, buying it up out of administration, and also follows on the from closure of eight other stores – including the Durham shop – after the new owners failed to reach agreements with landlords on rents.
A Sports Direct spokesman told retail industry publication Drapers: “We are continuing to work hard with our landlords to try to keep as many stores in the existing portfolio open.
"Unfortunately, it has not been possible to save these five stores. Where possible, Sports Direct is committed to finding new roles within the group for all affected Jack Wills staff.”
The new closures leave 85 stores around the UK, and the only one remaining in the North East will be at the intu Metrocentre in Gateshead .
Jack Wills was among a string of upmarket retailers to arrive in the city in 2013 as part of a multi-million pound makeover for the Monument Mall, joining other big names like The White Company, Reiss, Hug Boss, Rox and Kiehl’s.
The mall underwent a £15m transformation to attract the upmarket names, which also included Jamie’s Italian, which also moved out because it failed to come to an agreement with landlords, who brought in Banyan as new tenants.
Jack Wills – which was established in Salcombe, near Plymouth – had been struggling in the months leading up to its administration and had brought in accountancy giant KPMG to advise on its future.
The firm was then appointed as its administrator and Sports Direct bought Jack Wills for £12.8m in a pre-pack deal last, which saw its 1,700 staff members transfer to Sports Direct.
