'Sign of the times': Shropshire shoppers lament looming loss of Wilko in latest blow to high streets
Town centre shoppers about to lose their branch of Wilko have lamented the loss of another high street staple as "a sign of the times".
Shoppers are saying their final goodbyes to Wilko, a cherished mainstay of high streets across the country.
Having failed to secure a takeover that would have saved the business, the bargain chain went into administration last month and announced the closure of all 400 of its stores.
Fifty-one of the stores are said to have been snapped up by B&M, while Pepco, which owns Poundland, will take on the leases of 71 more.
But with both companies expected to use the premises to expand their own brands, shoppers are preparing to bid farewell to the familiar sight of the red, white and yellow storefronts.
In Shropshire, this means the closure of five stores: in Telford town centre, Wellington, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Market Drayton.
Shrewsbury's is set to close tomorrow, September 21, while Market Drayton's will close next Monday, September 25.
Shoppers in Market Drayton told the Shropshire Star of their sadness at the latest blow to the British high street.
"Sadly, it feels like a sign of the times," said Fay Wilde, 45. "Online shopping is the future.
