It’s a case of goodbye Smiths, hello Jones as a staple of York’s high street for years is set to change brands.
Plans hav been submitted to turn WH Smith on Coney Street to TG Jones.
It will bring to an end decades of retailing in the city centre by the famous stationer.
It follows the sale of Smiths’ 480 high street stores, which employ around 5,000 people, to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital for £76 million.
The WH Smith brand was not included in the sale to Modella which is why the high street shops be rebranded to TG Jones.
While it will take time to get used to the new name, the branding will mirror the existing look, with the same colours and similar lettering.
Planning documents state: “The existing blue aluminium WH Smith fascias will be replaced with blue aluminium TG Jones fascias with white acrylic lettering to match the style of the existing signs. Likewise the existing blue WH Smith projecting sign will be replaced like for like with a blue aluminium TG Jones sign with white vinyl lettering.
“Keeping the proposed signage in the same style as the existing signage and not being illuminated will ensure that it is in keeping with the other buildings in the area and will not to interfere with the historic façade.
“Works would be carried out outside of trading hours as much as possible, especially for the sign above the main entrance, so there would be no public access issues.”
The branch at York Station is unaffected by the sale and so won’t be rebranded.
The change comes ahead of the massive Coney Street Riverside scheme, which will redevelop much of the road, including what is now WH Smith.
The facade will stay, but the back of the shop will be demolished under the plans. But as the work is being phased in, this is not likely to happen for several years.
You can read and comment on the plans here.