David Jones has revealed the 19 stores which will soon close their doors, potentially affecting thousands of staff.

In an update on Wednesday afternoon, the 188-year-old retailer confirmed stores across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand would cease trading.

The dates of the closures has not yet been confirmed.

In New South Wales, the affected locations are Macquarie Centre, Macarthur Square, Parramatta, Wollongong Central, Hornsby, Green Hills and Warringah Mall.

Victoria will lose stores at Malvern Central, Highpoint and Glen Waverley, while Queensland closures include Robina Town Centre and Sunshine Plaza.

In Western Australia, the retailer’s Hay Street Mall, Carousel and Garden City stores are set to shut.

South Australian locations marked for closure are West Lakes and Marion, while the Woden store in the ACT will also close.

Across the Tasman, David Jones’ Newmarket store in Auckland, New Zealand, is also slated to shut its doors.

The 188-year-old retailer entered voluntary administration and receivership last week

The 188-year-old retailer entered voluntary administration and receivership last week after failing to pay rent owed to Westfield owner Scentre Group. 

The move cast doubt over the future of its 6,000 staff. 

Insolvency firm McGrathNicol has been appointed administrator, while FTI Consulting has been appointed receiver. 

Retail experts have urged Australians to use their David Jones gift cards before any potential store closures. 

Last week, David Jones CEO Erica Berchtold said the company had a ‘well-developed plan on how to reset the business for the future’.

‘David Jones is an iconic company and so many Australians have stories and memories of visiting DJ’s stores and I thank customers, our team members and our partners for their continued support for David Jones through this period,’ she said.

Founded in Sydney in 1838, David Jones is recognised as the world’s oldest continuously operating department store still trading under its original name.

South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings bought the chain for about $2.1billion in 2014, before selling its operating business to Anchorage Capital Partners for $100million in 2023.

Founded in Sydney in 1838, David Jones is recognised as the world’s oldest continuously operating department store still trading under its original name. Pictured is former David Jones model Megan Gale

South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings bought the chain for about $2.1billion in 2014, before selling its operating business to Anchorage Capital Partners for $100million in 2023. Pictured is former David Jones model Miranda Kerr

Retail analyst Barry Urquhart believes underperforming suburban stores are likely to be among the hardest hit, while flagship CBD locations in Sydney and Melbourne are better placed to survive due to stronger tourist numbers and foot traffic.

He told the Daily Mail that David Jones had struggled to attract a buyer despite reportedly spending more than three years searching for one.

‘There’s been no evidence of anyone wanting to buy it for the last three years. Why would there be one now?’ he said.

Mr Urquhart said the retailer’s financial difficulties reflected broader challenges facing department stores globally, including Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s.

‘When you run out of cash, you run out of time. And when you run out of time, your creditors run you out of business. That’s the essence of the situation. They have a cash flow problem,’ he said.

He also warned shoppers not to expect the kind of major discount sales typically associated with a retailer’s collapse, arguing David Jones needed to preserve its remaining cash.

‘They need surplus cash flow. They can’t do that with a splash big discount or clearance sale,’ he said.

Daily Mail has contacted FTI Consulting for comment.