Australia's Oldest Department Store Collapses After 188 Years

David Jones, Australia's oldest department store, has collapsed into voluntary administration after 188 years in business. The crisis puts more than 6,000 jobs at risk across a network of 38 stores, leaving the future of the iconic retailer uncertain.

puts ... at risk= 表示「使……面臨危險或損失」的常見搭配詞。leaving ... uncertain= 現在分詞引導的結果狀語，表示「使……處於不確定的狀態」。

The collapse follows years of heavy losses, struggling stores, and unpaid bills. Scentre Group, which owns Westfield shopping centres and is the retailer's primary landlord, said David Jones had not paid rent since September and had rejected an agreement to continue trading. Anchorage Capital Partners, the private equity firm that bought the retailer in 2023, has now lost operational control.

had not paid rent ... and had rejected= 過去完成式，用來表示在倒閉或聲明發布等過去基準時間點之前就已經發生的行為。

Financial managers have taken day-to-day control of operations to restructure the business while looking for fresh investment. While receivers hope to protect key city-centre flagship stores, experts warn that store closures are almost certain, with regional and outer-suburban locations expected to suffer the most. Union leaders said their priority is saving as many jobs as possible, even if the retailer must survive as a much smaller company.

財務管理團隊已接手日常營運控制權，以在尋求新投資的同時重組業務。儘管託管人希望能保住位於市中心的核心旗艦門市，但專家警告門市倒閉幾乎已成定局，其中偏遠地區和外郊的據點預計將受創最深。工會領袖表示，即便該零售商最終必須以小得多的公司規模存活下來，他們的優先事項也是盡可能保住更多工作機會。

with regional and outer-suburban locations expected to suffer the most= 介系詞「with ＋受詞＋過去分詞」結構，用來補充說明伴隨的情況或未來的預期。even if= 連接詞，表示「即使、就算」，引導一個不影響主要決心或目標的假設條件。

The collapse also creates immediate risks for everyday customers and suppliers. Consumer experts have urged shoppers to spend David Jones gift cards and reward vouchers as soon as possible, warning that they could become worthless if a buyer is not found.

urged shoppers to spend= 「urge + 受詞 + to 動詞原形」結構，意思是強力呼籲或敦促某人採取某項行動。

Australia's Oldest Department Store Collapses After 188 Years

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句型	意思
puts ... at risk	表示「使……面臨危險或損失」的常見搭配詞。
leaving ... uncertain	現在分詞引導的結果狀語，表示「使……處於不確定的狀態」。
had not paid rent ... and had rejected	過去完成式，用來表示在倒閉或聲明發布等過去基準時間點之前就已經發生的行為。
with regional and outer-suburban locations expected to suffer the most	介系詞「with ＋受詞＋過去分詞」結構，用來補充說明伴隨的情況或未來的預期。
even if	連接詞，表示「即使、就算」，引導一個不影響主要決心或目標的假設條件。
urged shoppers to spend	「urge + 受詞 + to 動詞原形」結構，意思是強力呼籲或敦促某人採取某項行動。

單字	意思
iconic	具有代表性、辨識度高，足以成為某個時代、文化或品牌象徵的
retailer	以零售方式販賣商品的商家或業者；零售商。
landlord	出租房屋或土地給他人的人；房東。
restructure	重新組織或調整（企業、機構等）的架構或營運方式。
worthless	沒有價值或用處的；一文不值的。
buyer	買東西的人；購買者。