WASHINGTON shoppers will be able to enjoy a new B&M at the Galleries Shopping Centre from early next year, following news the retailer will take over the former Wilko store.
Following days of speculation after movement was spotted in the empty unit by shoppers this week, Galleries chiefs today confirmed the store was one of the 51 Wilko stores snapped-up by B&M in September.
Work is now underway on the conversion, with the new B&M store set to open early in 2024.
“We know Wilko’s closure left a big hole for our shoppers, so we’re thrilled that B&M, a significant national brand, earmarked the Galleries for one of the stores it wanted to take over,” said Simon Eatough, director for landlord and tenant at LCP, part of M Core, which owns and manages the shopping centre.
“It’s great news for the local community, who value having a wide range of retailers locally and with eight tenants signing up this year, including Deichmann and Select, it’s been a great 12 months for The Galleries and we’re excited by other developments in the pipeline.”
B&M has been among the town’s most popular stores for almost a decade, opening its first branch at Peel Retail Park in 2014 before moving to a larger unit in 2020.
