‘Another empty shop’ cry fans as discount retailer closes ex-Wilko store just four months after takeover
A POPULAR discount retailer has closed an ex-Wilko store just four months after taking over the location.
Poundland bought up 71 ex-Wilko stores when the retailer fell into administration last year.
The discounter quickly turned around the locations and opened up many of the stores under its own brand before Christmas.
However, it has just announced it is closing its Ellesmere Port location on February 11.
A spokesperson for Poundland said: "The Ellesmere Port store sadly hasn’t met our trading expectations despite all our efforts.
"While we know how disappointing this will be to colleagues, we expect to be able to find roles for them at nearby stores such as Bromborough and Chester."
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The store closed as Wilko on September 17, 2023, and was reopened less than a month later as Poundland.
Locals have taken to social media to give their thoughts on the shock closure.
One person said: "Another empty shop."
Another added: "There will be nothing left before long, such a shame."
While a third commented: "They should put a Primark or TK Maxx there that would do well."
It comes just days after Poundland confirmed it would also be shutting down its branch in Galashiels, Scotland.
Locals have branded the closure "absolutely ridiculous" and described the shop as "great for people on a budget".
Poundland said of the Galashiels closure that it was as "disappointed as colleagues and customers".
Elsewhere, the retailer was set to pull the shutters on its site in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre, Ipswich.
However, shoppers were relieved after the popular discounter, which has more than 800 shops in the UK negotiated another deal with the landlord and revealed it would be staying put.
Poundland closed its store in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on January 5 and another branch in Basingstoke on December 31.
Further closures also took place for the discounter in 2023, here is the full list:
- Bolton - closed August 22
- Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire - closed June 11
- King's Lynn, Norfolk - closed June 2
- Gateshead - closed May 25
- Festival Park, Stoke - closed May 19
- Dewsbury - closed May 17
- Swadlincote - closed April 25
- Epsom - closed March 29
- Lime Square, Openshaw - closed March 27
- Ipswich - closed March 11
- Southport - closed March 3
- Walkden - closed February 28
However, despite this the retailer has been having success in most of the locations that it acquired from Wiko last year.
In December, Poundland's boss Austin Cooke said the retailer had experienced "amazing" trade across the acquired former Wilko sites.
He said: "You can't deny times are tricky for many and the cost of living situation is having an impact, but it just gives us more and more reason to give outstanding value."
Other high street changes
The face of the high street has been changing rapidly in recent years with some of the biggest names in retail shutting up shop.
A combination of increasing rents and the cost of living has left shoppers and retailers both feeling the pinch.
As well as Wilko, other retailers such as popular stationary brand Paperchase also vanished from the high street.
Meanwhile, pharmacy chain Boots started to look at its portfolio and close down some locations, as did Marks and Spencer.
However, it is not all bad news, as M&S has been opening up some new stores in locations including Leeds and Liverpool.
Supermarket chain Asda is also on track to open 1,000 more sites throughout the UK and Northern Ireland by March this year.
The Fraser Group has also recently confirmed it will be opening another "new concept" store amidst a wage of store closures.
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The retail giant owned by Mike Ashley announced it will be taking over the former John Lewis site at Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's has recently announced that it is making a huge raft of changes to product ranges and Argos stores.