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Wilko store in Jackson Square centre in Bishop’s Stortford announces its last trading day




After 26 years in Bishop’s Stortford, the town’s Wilko store has announced its last trading day in the wake of the national chain’s collapse.

The homewares and household goods outlet in Jackson Square, which opened in late 1997, will close for good on Thursday October 5 – five years to the month after it reopened following a major refurbishment.

It employs around 25 staff currently, although this number has dwindled in recent years from the 50-plus it once had on its payroll.

Wilko in Jackson Square, Bishop's Stortford
Wilko in Jackson Square, Bishop's Stortford

A notice on the store’s windows reads: “All team at Bishops Stortford would like to thank all our customers for your loyal support over the years.

“We would also like to thank you all for the kind words we have received recently – they have meant the world to us! Thank you from all of us.”

The Stortford branch has been one of the last of the 400 or so to close as it was a flagship training store.

The Jackson Square Wilko is reportedly one of up to 71 across the country which could become a branch of Poundland.

Poundland is setting up a deal with Wilko’s administrator PwC. Boss Barry Williams has said the company, owned by Pepco Group, hoped to work quickly with landlords to get the new shops open by the end of the year, with current Wilko staff getting priority for any new jobs.

Jackson Square is owned by Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) and any new tenant would need its agreement to take over Wilko’s unit. LGIM declined to comment to the Indie on its discussions with Poundland.

Poundland previously operated in the town from premises in South Street. It followed 99p Stores as the occupant of the former Sainsbury’s store in the mid-2010s before B&M opened in February 2018. It is understood the brand has been looking to return to the town for some years.

Its discount rival B&M is negotiating to buy 51 of Wilko's buildings in a reported £13m deal.

The 71 shops in the Poundland deal and the 51 on B&M’s shopping list employ about 3,200 Wilko workers.

Family-run retailer Wilko, founded in 1930, fell into administration in August and PwC was unable to secure a sale of the whole company to save all stores and jobs.

Poundland, which opened its first UK store at Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire in 1990, has over 800 branches and carries a range of 3,000 discount products. It is also set to buy Wilko stores in Cambridge and Hitchin.

Wilko was one of three anchor stores – along with Sainsbury's and Next – at Jackson Square, which is home to over 40 shops and is currently undergoing a major building project to accommodate a new TK Maxx outlet to open in autumn 2024.

Centre manager Michael Smith said: “Like most of the country, we are sad to see the collapse of Wilko. Outside of us losing a great high street brand from the shopping centre and wider town, it is the staff of the store we are really sad to see go, some of whom have worked at the store for many years.

“We wish them all the very best for the future and will continue to work closely with the team to support in relocating them to vacant roles within the centre.”



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