WHSmith rebrands to TGJones as River Island shuts stores: What's next for Birmingham's high streets?
More change is sweeping through Birmingham.
WHSmith is no longer WHSmith. It’s now called TGJones — a rebrand few asked for and even fewer recognise.
Meanwhile, River Island is shutting stores across the UK, with the Sutton Coldfield branch already set to close.
These weren’t just shops — they were part of the routine. Trusted names. Familiar spaces. Now, one’s been stripped of its identity, and the other is vanishing altogether.
So what does this mean for Birmingham’s high streets? For the jobs, the habits, and the heartbeat of city life?
This isn’t just about two brands. It’s part of a wider pattern: Debenhams. Wilko. Topshop. One by one, high street staples are disappearing. And with them, the everyday spaces where people meet, browse, and feel part of something local.
Empty units are taking their place.
So we asked shoppers in Birmingham: what’s really going on? And what - if anything - is filling the gaps?
Watch the video to hear what they had to say.