Darlington Wilko closes to shoppers as doors close for last time

The town's branch of the store is part of the final batch of stores that will be closing, which has seen over 400 branches of Wilko close nationwide. 

The hardware and furnishings retailer tumbled into administration last month after it came under pressure from weak consumer spending and debts to suppliers.

Read more: Darlington Wilko staff display goodbye sign ahead of closure

Earlier this month, administrators confirmed rival discount chain The Range has snapped up Wilko’s brand, website and intellectual property.

Meanwhile, a number of Wilko stores in the North East have been snapped up by competitor Poundland after a deal to save Wilko by HMV collapsed earlier this week. 

Despite Darlington not being on the list of stores to be bought by Poundland, nine Wilko North East stores have been taken over by the thrifty retailer.

A note from staff to shoppers at Darlington Wilko (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

As Darlington's Wilko prepared to close down, staff members taped a heartfelt thank you note to the window of the store on East Street.

The sign reads: "Thank you to all of our loyal customers. We will miss you. Love from Darlington 127 staff."

A small flower chain displaying the names of many of the staff members has been drawn alongside them.

Some of the shelves in Darlington Wilko earlier this month (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

With the store closing on Sunday, many shoppers have been reflecting on the lifespan of the Wilko store in the town, with one shopper telling The Northern Echo: "I've come here for years, it feels like the end of an era for me and many other shoppers."

Meanwhile, another shopper added: "The high street is slowly declining, this is another shop that has gone."

It isn't just shoppers that have reflected on the closure of the store.

Wilko Darlington (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Darlington MP Peter Gibson said: "A sad day for our town centre as Wilko closes its doors for the last time this weekend."

Mr Gibson has reassured staff affected by the closure that help and support are available through JCP in Darlington and a range of other organisations.

While the Wilko closure takes place, East Street car park, above Wilko in the town centre, will close for a week.

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The car park will close while work is carried out to secure the lifts which are inside the store and so will not be able to be used once the shop closes.

In the aftermath of the closure, questions have been raised about what the store will become now it has closed. 

MP Peter Gibson has highlighted that he will be working with the council to see what it can be used for moving forward.

He added: "I will be speaking to the Council to establish how the vacant site can be utilised into the future and how it fits in with redevelopment opportunities alongside the Skerne in conjunction with the Library, the old Sports Direct site, Towns Fund Investment etc to ensure that the site works hard for our town as we continue to bring investment and new opportunities to the town."