Is The Range moving into the old Wilko store in Barry?

There’s word going round that The Range is set to move into the large department store – now a hole – in the centre of one of Barry’s main shopping districts.

Why The Range? Well the company, and owners CDS Superstores, bought the Wilko brand and website when administrators were unable to reach a rescue deal for the department store last year.

Starting business as an open-air market in Plymouth, The Range now has over 11,000 employees and sells a range… of products including in the home, garden and leisure categories.

However, if you want to pop down from the Bendricks and grab a new sofa or plant pot from The Range, you’ll have to go a little further afield than Barry.

A spokesperson for the company told Barry and District News there were no plans for The Range to come to Wales’ most famous seaside town.

The spokesperson said: “There is nothing to confirm on the Range coming to Barry.”

The Range in Cardiff: The store stocks a variety of household and garden goods (Image: Google Maps)

What happened to Wilkos department store on Barry’s Holton Road?

Barry’s Wilkos on Holton Road shut for good on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

Now, on one of Barry’s main shopping strips, all that is left of Wilkos is an empty shell and haunting aisles that stick out the shadows.

Wilkos had been trading across the UK for 93 years having been founded in Leicester.

Oscar’s Barbers, opposite the former Wilkos site in Barry, said it was sad to see it go and Holton Road has been quieter since the closure.

While their business hasn’t been affected, the barbers – who saw the day-to-day goings on of Barry’s Wilkos being right opposite it – said some of the reasons for the closure included lack of parking and the store was such a big space to manage.

Barry's Wilkos on Holton Road shut in September 2023 (Image: Newsquest)

Holton Road is said to be quieter now Barry's Wilkos has closed (Image: Newsquest)

Read more on Barry's high street, here:

• Holton Road quieter after shutters down on Wilkos Barry
• Owner of Awesome Wales supports staff at Wilkos Barry by handing out CV’s for them
• Penarth's Funky Monkey shop closing and moving to Barry

Is there a future for Wilkos?

The Wilkos story is a heartbreaking saga that began at the beginning of August last year when it was revealed the high street chain was going into administration.

Just over six weeks later, more than 400 shops and 12,000 jobs disappeared after the business collapsed.

400 shops and 12,000 jobs disappeared after Wilkos collapsed last year (Image: Newsquest)

But the Wilkos story is not entirely over. There has been glimpses of that famous red sign that used to adorn our high streets.

A few stores across the UK have reopened under new ownership, while Wilkos much admired bargain-priced paint is being restocked in Range stores.

What do you think should go in the former Wilko department store on Holton Road? What do you dream of seeing there? What would be best thing for the area? Let us know in the comments, on our Facebook page, or email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.

Got a story in Barry? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.