David Jones announces the closure of its James St, Fortitude Valley store

It’s barely been open for three years, but one of David Jones’ newest stores is shutting up shop. But the company insists it’s all OK.

David Jones has announced the closure of one of its newest stores with plans to shut the doors to one of its Brisbane establishments by June.

It’s been less than three years since the James St, Fortitude Valley store opened its doors to the public, but it will be the first store closed in Queensland by David Jones.

Despite the upcoming June closure, the company insists everything is in order and all staff will keep their jobs.

“All team members have been offered redeployment to nearby stores including Queens Plaza,” a David Jones spokesman said.

The Queens Plaza store, the biggest David Jones in Brisbane, is less than 5km away from the James St boutique.

David Jones on James St, Fortitude Valley. Picture: Google Maps

The store opened in 2017 with David Jones claiming the James St closure was in line with its “retail network strategy”.

“The optimisation of our retail network through investment in flagship stores, right-sizing and, where necessary, consolidation of our footprint, together with our enhanced online offering, is critical to meeting the changing needs and preferences of our customer,” a David Jones spokesman said.

“We look forward to welcoming Brisbane customers to our QueensPlaza CBD flagship, our new-concept Carindale store and other surrounding David Jones stores as well as to davidjones.com.”

The Fortitude Valley store, which purported to offer more than 70 brands unavailable anywhere else on James St, also marketed itself to the “local customer”.

“Discover a bespoke edit of local and international fashion, beauty and accessories curated for the local customer,” is how the store described itself.

“Enjoy complimentary concierge services, personal shopping services, expert advice from beauty advisers and click and collect.”

The Courier-Mailspoke to the store’s manager Tiffany Hall when it opened in 2017. She said she had high hopes for the James St shop.

Ms Hall said customers would have a “very different shopping experience”.

“James St is a growing and vibrant precinct, and we are really pleased to have a presence in this market,” she told the publication.

“We think customers will respond well to our store.”

The publication also reported David Jones had been looking at getting out of its long-term lease as early as August last year.