I was at Wilko on closing day – it was like a CIRCUS as shoppers were stripping shelves for 10p bargains without looking | The Sun
A SHOPPER who was at his local Wilko branch on closing day has said it was "like a circus".
Denys, from Wood Green, North London, was stunned as other customers stripped shelves for 10p bargains without even looking at what they were picking up.
The 21-year-old told The Sun Online: "Everyone was there trying to grab everything they could…They didn't even look at the stuff.
"The staff didn't seem bothered, they were just chatting.
"There were at least a hundred people…just grabbing whatever they can.
"There was no space to see what was left.
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"You don't see things like that much…it was like Black Friday."
Denys went on to say he had shopped at the Wilko branch since he was a child and had gone down on its last day to "see it one last time".
He added that he was "sad" to see the shop go but that by the time he arrived "all the good stuff had gone".
The discount supermarket chain fell into administration in August and has been closing down branches since September 12.
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The final 41 sites, including Deny's local in Wood Green, were shut down this week.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to support former staff of the collapsed retailer, while Poundland has taken over several of the disused sites.
Other shoppers spoke to us of their devastation at the loss of a major high street brand.
In Kingston-upon-Thames, London, Luca Borrione, who used to visit nearly every week, said: "Wilko was my favourite store.
"I bought everything from here, so it was really sad for me when it shut down. It came as a surprise."
And Phil Brannelly called the closures a "sign of the times".
He added: "It was our favourite shop. It’s a real shame.
"It’s a part of the community that we cherished and it’s sad for the community and the people who work there.
"It’s the end of an era, I guess."
Fellow locals said that they didn't know where they would else they could shop, with some citing homeware, art supplies and cleaning products as items they would always get from Wilko
However, not everyone was sad to see the back of the brand.
Long-time customer Stephen Atwood said that it was good that the store would make way for more viable business, adding that high streets need all the help they can get.
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It comes after customers raced to Wilko in its final days to nab an £8.50 buy that will dry clothes in the winter.
Meanwhile, the rebirth of one site as a Poundland hit a speed bump when the roof collapsed just hours after it opened to the public.
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