John Lewis says all 50 of its stores will close on Monday night due to coronavirus

John Lewis closes all 50 shops for first time in its 155-year history due to coronavirus (including flagship Oxford Street store that last closed when it was bombed by the Nazis in 1940)

John Lewis Partnership has announced it has made the ‘difficult decision’ to temporarily close all 50 John Lewis shops at close of business on Monday as a result of the impact of coronavirus.

The shop has never before closed its stores apart from when the flagship John Lewis on Oxford Street was bombed in 1940 during World War Two.  

However, Partners retained trade by setting up a desk outside the shop and took orders to other shops. 

John Lewis Partnership has announced it has made the ‘difficult decision’ to temporarily close all 50 John Lewis shops at close of business on Monday as a result of the impact of coronavirus

The company’s website will continue to operate as normal and Waitrose shops and website will also continue to function. 

In an announcement on the John Lewis website they company said: ‘This will be the first time in the 155-year history of the business that it will not open its shop doors for customers.

‘As a consequence, Waitrose food offers within department stores at Watford, Southampton and Bluewater will also close but johnlewis.com, which generates half the brand’s business, will continue to operate as normal.’  

Excluding public holidays, localised closures and a direct bombing of John Lewis Oxford Street, in 1940 and on Knight and Lee and Tyrell and Green, Southampton in 1940 and, Weston-Super-Mare’s Lance and Lance in 1942, John Lewis has never closed a store. 

Chairman Sharon White, said: ‘The welfare of our customers, communities and Partners is always our absolute priority. 

‘While it is with a heavy heart that we temporarily close our John Lewis shops, our Partners will, where possible, be taking on important roles in supporting their fellow Partners, providing critical services in Waitrose shops and ensuring our customers can get what they need through johnlewis.com, which is seeing extremely strong demand.’

The shop has never before closed its stores apart from when the flagship John Lewis on Oxford Street was bombed in 1940 during World War Two

The shop has never before closed its stores apart from when the flagship John Lewis on Oxford Street was bombed in 1940 during World War Two

She added:  ‘I also want to give my personal thanks to every single partner for their extraordinary efforts, I am truly grateful. And to the wider community for pulling together with us during such unprecedented times.’

All 338 Waitrose shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands will remain open as will waitrose.com. 

Over 2,000 John Lewis Partners are already working in Waitrose shops to assist with the unprecedented demand for grocery and other essential goods and wherever possible, John Lewis Partners will be redeployed to provide additional support to Waitrose and johnlewis.com for our non-food online business.  

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