MORE former Wilko stores have been given a new lease of life as Poundland stores.
The beloved high street chain’s final remaining sites shut for good on October 8.
AlamyAll Wilko stores closed earlier this month[/caption]
GettySeveral sites have been taken over by Poundland[/caption]
Brits across the country were left devastated as Wilko plunged into administration on August 10
But since then, a number of stores have been snapped up by rivals.
Discount chain Poundland is among those to have bought ex-Wilko sites.
Poundland bosses took on 71 sites – and another nine opened up doors to customers keen to snag a bargain on Saturday.
The retailer had already reopened 28 former Wilko’s stores since September 30.
But Poundland was forced scrap plans to take over one store in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, after surveys done on the building showed the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Stores reopened in a hurry as Poundland are set to receive a full makeover in 2024.
The shops will mostly include Poundland items but also a selection of Wilko products that weren’t sold during the closing-down sales.
On Saturday, nine former Wilko shops turned into Poundlands opened in:
The Bay Tree Centre, BrentwoodGeorge Street, Stamford Quarter, AltrinchamThe Priory Centre, WorksopThe Broadway, West EalingHigh Road, WembleyTown Square, Six Acre Shopping Centre, SaleByron Place, Seaham, DurhamSelly Oak Shopping Park, Selly Oak, BirminghamJackson Square, Bishops Stortford
It comes after 28 Poundland reopened Wilko’s at the following sites:
Broad Street, StaffordPendle Rise Shopping Centre, NelsonThe Peel Centre, Great Portwood Street, StockportThe Mall, Church Street, Eccles36-40 London Street, SouthportLord Street, Leigh22/28 East Street, Barking88-90 High Street, Maidenhead2 -12 Bede Precinct, Viking Centre, JarrowUnit 2 The Broadway, ScunthorpeNottingham Street, Melton MowbrayBank Road, MatlockWelsh Street, ChepstowThe Kimberley Shopping Centre, Greens Lane, Nottingham,High Street, WorcesterCivic Way, Marina Walk, Ellesmere PortCary Lane, BriggFore Street, RedruthVictoria Road, FerndownCrane Street, Torfaen, Pontypool, South WalesChurch Street, Ripley, DerbyshireDeansgate, BoltonThe Interchange Centre, West Street, GatesheadMarket Square, BicesterOrton Gate Shopping Centre, PeterboroughBradfield Road, SheffieldManors Walk Shopping Nall, CramlingtonShrewsbury Mall, Market Street, Rugeley
Darren Kay, Poundland’s retail director, said: “We’re proud that to date, we’re the only retailer that’s delivered on its promise to re-open Wilko stores and offer roles to their people.
“In four short weeks, we’ll have opened 37 Wilko stores – an amazing achievement by hundreds of colleagues right across our Poundland business.
“I’d like to thank them for all the hard work that’s making sure these former Wilko stores begin their new Poundland journeys in such good shape.
“While more extensive refits will be scheduled for the new year, we look forward to welcoming customers old and new to their new stores this weekend.”
Poundland also opened a brand new store at Queens Retail Park in Stafford on Saturday.
The new store will feature Poundland’s widest ranges and create 15 new roles.
Poundland aims to open all the former Wilko stores it bought by the end of 2023.