Wilko will return to high streets next WEEK as first of 5 shops to open doors – is one near you?
WILKO fans will be pleased to know that the discounter is making a comeback next week.
Shoppers will be able to grab some festive bargains from the retailer once again as five shops are set to open before Christmas.
This will be Christmas music to the ears of fans of Wilko after the chain disappeared from the high street earlier this year.
The Wilko name and intellectual property were bought by rival discounter The Range after the retailer fell into administration.
Since then, CDS Superstores, which trades as The Range and Wilko, revealed that it will be relaunching the chain at sites in England, Scotland, and Wales.
The first of the new Wilko stores are set to open in Plymouth and Exeter on December 1.
This will be closely followed by another opening in Luton on December, 8.
Not only will shoppers be able to browse the shelves of their favourite retailer once again, but the first fifty people through the doors will get a free goody bag.
The new shops will offer value items including cleaning and household, decorating and DIY, garden and outdoor, homeware, pets, storage, and seasonal items.
Customers will also be able to buy the wilko.com range for home delivery using in-store terminals.
Alex Simkin, chief executive of CDS Superstores said: “It’s clear that there’s a huge love for Wilko and we’re proud to confirm we’ll be re-introducing the brand to high streets in the coming weeks.
“We’re also glad to be bringing employment opportunities to these towns and for helping local families and communities have easy access to all the everyday home and garden items they need once again.”
The exact locations of the other two stores opening before Christmas is yet to be confirmed.
Mr Simkin’s also added that further store launches and re-openings will be announced throughout 2024.
Full details of three newly announced store locations are as follows:
- Plymouth, which opens at Unit A, Armada Centre, Mayflower Street, Plymouth, PL1 1QL on December 1
- Exeter, which opens at Unit 100, Guildhall Shopping Centre, Exeter, EX4 3HP on December 1
- Luton, which opens at 141/147 Arndale Centre, Luton, LU1 2TN on December 8
This comes after The Sun exclusively revealed three other potential locations for new Wilko stores.
Shoppers have been reacting to the new openings on the Wilko Facebook page, with many pleading for their local store to open up again.
One person said: “I am looking forward to visiting again.”
And another added: “Please, please come back to Dunstable, we really miss you.”
While someone else commented: “Welcome back Wilko.”
A fourth person praised the Range for realising how “beloved” Wilko is.
Wilko.com returned earlier this month under The Range’s ownership, and Wilko branded items are being stocked in The Range stores.
Concessions have opened inside the chain’s 210 shops, selling many popular Wilko products.
The chain went into administration in August after failing to find a buyer for the whole business.
The last remaining Wilko sites shut for good on Sunday, October 8.
But rivals then stepped in to buy up a handful of stores, including Poundland, which purchased 71 Wilko stores.
All of the stores snapped up by the rival discounter have since reopened under the Poundland name.
B&M also agreed to buy up to 51 locations in a £13million deal.
These locations haven’t been announced yet but will reopen as B&M shops.
As part of the agreement, which also includes Wilko’s intellectual property, 36 jobs were saved as the employees transferred over.
Rival chains Home Bargains and Dunelm also offered devastated Wilko staff new roles after the retailer collapsed.