‘A crying shame’ as Wilko prepares to close 85 more stores for good this week – see the full list
WILKO has confirmed that a further 85 stores are set to close their doors this week.
The retailer will be bringing the shutters down on all of its 400 locations by early October.
So far, 90 Wilko stores have already disappeared from the high street.
It comes after the chain fell into administration last month after failing to find new backing for the business.
The Range has snapped up Wilko’s brand, website and intellectual property, but not its stores.
The Wilko won't disappear from the high street though, with The Range confirming that it will sell Wilko products “in-store”.
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Poundland swooped on a deal to buy 71 shops from Wilko and said former workers will be first in the line for new jobs.
The budget retailer said that it wanted to rebrand the stores and have them ready for Christmas trading.
Plus, 51 shops were sold to B&M Bargains for £13 million earlier this month.
B&M will be reopening the stores under its own name.
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Locations of B&M's stores will be issued alongside its half-year financial results on November 9.
The closures have been confirmed by administrators PwC, with stores in Manchester, Essex and Cardiff already pulling down the shutters.
Shoppers have taken to social media to share their sadness over losing their local Wilko.
One Facebook user said: "Wilko was a much loved replacement for our dear Woolies and the staff were lovely."
Another wrote: "So sad. This store was amazing through Covis lockdown.
"We were able to redecorate and by many essentials needed at the time.
"Always supported them. Another great loss for our town. Thanks Wilko."
A third added: "Bloody heartbreaking. It's been up and down whether they would be saved, but now it's happening the powers that be are not wasting any time."
Wilko launched an "everything must go sale", with discounts varying between 20% and 50% off.
Shoppers need to act fast to take advantage of the discounts because once they're gone, they're gone.
Always remember you might find that your closest store doesn't have what you want in stock.
We've listed all the 38 stores that are set to close tomorrow (Tuesday, September 19):
- Aberdare
- Alfreton
- Ashby
- Barnstaple
- Belper
- Beverley
- BlackheathBrigg
- Byker, Chepstow
- Clifton Nottingham
- Colindale
- Devizes
- Didcot
- Earlestown
- East Ham
- Great Bridge
- Greenbridge
- Grimsby
- Hessle Road - Hull
- Jarrow
- Kimberley
- Leighton Buzzard
- Long Eaton
- Maesteg
- Matlock
- Middleton
- Newton Abbot
- Redcar
- Ripley
- Seaham
- Sherwood
- Stamford
- Stevenage
- Swanley
- Tamworth
- Wrexham
- Wythenshawe
Meanwhile, the following stores 47 will close on Thursday (September 21):
- Allestree
- Andover
- Bedford
- Beeston
- Bicester
- Bloxwich
- Bolton
- Bordon
- Bransholme
- Bridgend, Bury
- Carlton
- Clacton on Sea
- Cramlington
- Crewe
- Cwmbran
- Cyfarthfa
- Denton
- Driffield
- Droitwich
- Edmonton Green
- Farnborough
- Fort Kinnaird
- Fulham
- Gateshead
- Gorleston
- Grays
- Greenock
- Havant
- Hereford
- Hillsborough
- Holyhead
- Newton Aycliffe
- Northampton
- Orton
- Parc Trostre Llanelli
- Penge
- Peterlee
- Pwllheli
- Shrewsbury
- Slough
- Swindon
- Tamworth Retail Park
- Taunton
- Walton on Thames
- Wheatley Retail Park
- Wigan
- Wolverhampton
In an emotional open letter to all staff and heartbroken shoppers chief executive officer, Mark Jackson, thanked them for their support over the 90-year stint on the British high street.
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Mr Jackson, said that the company had "left no stone unturned" in a bid to save the chain.
Meanwhile, retail experts have revealed what went wrong with Wilko ahead of the store closures this week.
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