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200 Woolworths stores have closed down

by mudricky | December 27, 2008 at 02:29 am

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Over 200 Woolworths stores closed their doors today.

With only 600 stores left open now, the rest will close before, or 5 January meaning 27,000 permanent and temporary staff will lose their jobs.

Woolworths ran into trouble this year after struggling under the weight of its debt.

Another 200 stores will shut on 30 December, 200 on 2 January and the remaining ones on January 5.

It's problems were compounded when it was forced to pay cash while buying goods from suppliers because trade credit insurers were no longer prepared to cover its suppliers.

The only good news for staff is the news that some stores in prime High Street locations will be reopened soon by other retailers who have expressed an interest in buying their leases, which could offer job opportunities to redundant Woolworths staff.

[PDF] Full list of when stores will close

[Audio Slideshow] The Wonder of Woolies (BBC)

More than 200 Woolworths stores across the UK have closed their doors, signalling the chain's final days on the High Street after 99 years.

Barring any last-minute rescue, the remaining 600 stores will follow suit by 5 January and 27,000 permanent and temporary staff will lose their jobs.

Branches in Prestwick, Liverpool, Llandudno, Sutton Coldfield and Gateshead are among those that shut.

The chain called in administrators last month amid mounting debts of £385m.

The rest of the branch closures will be staggered, with another 200 stores shutting on 30 December, 200 on 2 January and the remaining ones on January 5.

The first round of Woolworths closures comes nearly 100 years after American F W Woolworth opened his first UK store in Liverpool.

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Jordan Yerman

at 06:54 on December 27th, 2008

Woolly's, we hardly knew ye.

mudricky

at 07:04 on December 27th, 2008

I went in for a look around today as my local store doesn't close until the 5th.

Everything in store was 50% off and about three rows with 70%. I bought a dvd -Top Gun, A PC puzzle game, 5 pens and a 5 pack of Extra chewing gum for under £4 (Canada Dollars £7, US$5.80). Amazing.

Everyone in Scotland, and the UK knows this store. Next year they would have been over 100 years old.

I've never seen a store that was so mixed... IT SOLD EVERYTHING!

But like most people I never went into it, everything in store I could buy somewhere else for less. It was over priced and I would guess was it downfall.

In 40 years time I'll prob be telling kids about it, remember wollies, it sold everything!!!

lefty_liberated

at 09:40 on December 27th, 2008

i didn't even know there were still woolworths in existance. my mother took me to one when i was a kid in the 70s or eighties and they had a soda bar old fashioned style.