Poundland Store Closure in Jackson Square Shocks Locals, Employees
Poundland has closed its store in Jackson Square, less than seven months after it opened in October 2023. The closure comes as a surprise to many, as the store was part of a wave of new Poundland openings following the company’s acquisition of 71 former Wilko locations in September 2023.
A spokesperson for Poundland revealed that the company was unable to secure a long-term lease for the Jackson Square store, which forced them to close the location. The closure has resulted in disappointment for both customers and employees, and it is unclear how many jobs will be lost as a result.
The Jackson Square closure is not the first of its kind in recent months. Several other Poundland stores have closed since the company took over the former Wilko shops, including branches in Ellesmere Port, Galashiels, Alfreton, and the Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich. The Alfreton store closed at the beginning of April after a similar six-month stint serving customers, also due to the failure to secure a long-term lease.
Despite the store closures, Poundland still has around 800 branches across the UK. The company is currently undergoing a major store renovation project called “Project Evo”, which is expected to see 150 stores transformed by August. The renovations will include new signage, flooring, lighting, and additional features like chilled food ranges and baby and kids clothing sections. This marks the first significant investment in the affected stores for more than five years.
