Australia’s oldest department store is remaining tight-lipped over reports it will close almost two-thirds of its stores, as pressure mounts on the 188-year-old retailer.
David Jones is understood to be considering slashing its network from 38 stores to just 12 across Australia and New Zealand.
Five locations inside Westfield shopping centres are reportedly among those in the firing line.
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The sites include Westfield Carousel in Perth, Parramatta and Hornsby in Sydney, Woden in Canberra and Southland in Melbourne, according to the Australian Financial Review.
David Jones was contacted for comment but did not respond by time of publication.
A company spokesperson previously told 7NEWS.com.au that their chief executive Erica Berchtold was reviewing the retailer’s store network and supplier arrangements.
“CEO Erica Berchtold’s priority is to accelerate the execution of the business’s INSPIRE30 strategy and is in advanced discussions with key stakeholders about how David Jones is adapting to the ever-changing retailing landscape,” the spokesperson said.
“This includes a review of the portfolio of stores across Australia and the trading terms with suppliers and brand partners.”
David Jones has 17 stores across Scentre Group’s Westfield portfolio, a group which operates 42 shopping centre destinations across Australia and New Zealand.
Retail footprint has already been reduced
Westfield’s owner declined to comment on the current situation to 7news.com.au, but had previously confirmed working with the department store to reduce its footprint at three locations.
In an address to investors in April, Scentre said the changes had helped introduce “in demand and highly productive stores”.
At Westfield Southland, the redevelopment delivered a new family, dining and entertainment precinct, contributing to a 6.5 per cent increase in visitation in 2025.
At Westfield Burwood in Sydney, space previously occupied by David Jones was redeveloped for Aldi, JB Hi-Fi, Nike and Rebel, helping drive visitation growth of 9.3 per cent.
The group also completed a redevelopment of Level 1 at Westfield Bondi Junction, introducing a health, wellness and fitness precinct featuring Virgin Active and Rebel.
Brands you’ll see less of on the shelves
Country Road Group, which operates brands including Country Road, Witchery, Mimco, Politix and Trenery, has also confirmed to Ragtrader plans to withdraw nearly 100 of its 283 concession spaces across David Jones stores in early 2027.
Hilco Capital, David Jones’ lender, told 7NEWS.com.au it had provided funding above the agreed facility to help the embattled retailer increase stock levels ahead of the Christmas trading period.
“Hilco remains supportive of the business and any inference otherwise is false,” a spokesperson said.
The department store has also reportedly lost several major luxury brands, including Christian Dior, Gucci and Chanel.
David Jones is owned by Australian private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners, which acquired the retailer from South African group Woolworths Holdings in 2023 in a deal reportedly worth $100 million.
The iconic Australian retail institution has been under increasing pressure as shoppers tighten their spending amid rising living costs and department store sales struggle.
David Jones has survived two world wars and the Great Depression, but its long history and heritage are now being tested by a changing retail landscape.
7NEWS.com.au has contacted David Jones, its owner Anchorage Capital Partners, Scentre Group and the SDA, which represents retail workers in NSW, ACT, Victoria and Western Australia, for comment.
