Wilko – what a saga, eh? The beloved homeware chain dramatically went into administration last year and closed a whopping 400 stores. Nearly 12 months on, however, and Wilko is making a comeback. The brand’s new boss has announced plans to open hundreds of new outlets – and now we know where some of those stores are going to be and when they’ll open.
So how, after collapsing into administration, is Wilko reopening? Well, keen followers of the Wilko saga may remember that as the chain was going under, its brand, website and intellectual property were bought by another UK chain, The Range. That chain’s owner Chris Dawson is spearheading Wilko’s resurgence, with completely new ownership.
Dawson apparently plans on opening a massive 300 new Wilko stores, though it hasn’t been confirmed exactly when they’ll all open. Apparently 50 are officially in the pipeline, with several already open and one more set to welcome customers this summer.
Wilko stores reopening
One new store now has both a confirmed location and opening date. It is:
- Dolphin Centre, Poole, Dorset (opening Friday August 16)
Wilko’s Poole store will be spread over 23,500 square feet and include an Iceland concession. On opening day, the first 50 shoppers in the queue will receive prizes and goody bags.
A further five Wilkos have already opened. Those are:
- Plymouth, Armada Centre, Mayflower Street
- Exeter, Guildhall Shopping Centre
- Luton, Arndale Centre
- St Albans, The Maltings Shopping Centre
- Rotherham, Parkgate Shopping Park
So, good news for lovers of the Wilko brand! The rest of the 300 stores planned don’t yet have opening dates or locations – so watch this space for updates.
Time Out and high-street homeware
We at Time Out were as devastated as any by the collapse of Wilko last year. But other brands are doing a bit better: both The Range and B&M have announced that they’ll be opening new stores over the coming months, while Lidl is set to open 12 new stores across the country.
Have a look at our full list of high street shops closing doors this year for a full lowdown on who is closing what and where.
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