WILKO is pulling down the shutters on 38 shops today as it moves to close all of its 400 stores for good.
The collapsed retailer is closing the doors on a total of 86 shops this week, with all remaining sites to close by early October.
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Within the past two weeks the chain has shut 90 locations across the country.
The beloved discounter tumbled into administration on August 10 after trying and failing to find a backer for the company.
Poundland has since snapped up up to 71 shops, stating that Wilko workers will be first in the line for new jobs.
The budget retailer will rebrand the stores and have them ready to open in time for Christmas trading.
Administrators at PwC had already agreed a £13million deal to sell up to 51 Wilko stores to rival B&M.
But sadly, a buyer for the whole business couldn’t be found and it has since been announced that all 400 shops will close in the coming weeks.
As a result, thousands of Wilko employees will be made redundant.
Administrators have agreed the sale of the retailer’s brand name and website to The Range, so the name will live on elsewhere but the shops will soon vanish from the high street for good.
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The list of confirmed closures has been growing, with a total of 176 locations named so far.
Shoppers have taken to social media to share their sadness over losing their area’s Wilko.
One loyal customer said: “I rather like Wilkos and it’s a crying shame the stores are closing.”
Another wrote: “A real shame I loved Wilko.”
A third posted that it was “so sad to see” the shops close their doors.
A fourth commented: “Heartbreaking for all the wonderful staff will miss using store.”
And a another disappointed shopper said: “Empty shops in every town and city. Sad times.”
On September 12, 24 Wilko stores closed for good and on Thursday September 14, another 28 stores shut up shop.
Both of Wilko’s warehouses, called distribution centres also closed on September 15.
A further 38 stores pulled down the shutters one last time on September 17.
Another round of 38 shops will close today, followed by 48 more branches shutting their doors on Thursday, September 21.
Timings for when the remaining stores will be shutting shop will be announced in due course, according to administrators at PwC.
Below we’ve listed the 38 sites shutting their doors today:
- 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, Wilko staff have issued an urgent plea to shoppers before it shuts its doors for good.
Plus, another major supermarket has revealed it could take over Wilko sites as part of a huge expansion.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
