29 Mar 2024
A man queuing since 6:50am to pick up some small disposable bags became the lucky winner of a trolley load of goodies to mark the reopening of St Albans’ Wilko store.
The shop, in The Maltings Shopping Centre, was officially reopened at 9am this morning.
Hundreds of people queued outside hoping to pick up one of 50 goodie bags for the first customers.
At the front of them all was Cottonmill resident Harry Hansen, who had no idea he would win a prize, but just wanted to be first through the doors.
Also queuing were Gemma Brown, Ally Turnball and her daughter Caitlin. Keen gardeners, they wanted to check out what the store was offering for outdoor spaces.
Ally Darwendala was also in the queue. She said: “I was very disappointed when Wilko closed last year. There was nowhere in town to pick up antibacterial wipes!”
St Albans Mayor Cllr Anthony Rowlands, who cut the ribbon to open the store, said he welcomed the return of Wilko to St Albans “like a phoenix from the ashes”.
He said it was important to have accessible shops people can go into instead of relying on the internet, and suggested the new Wilko was even better than before.
Maltings general manager Richard Marrett said it was an honour for the centre to be chosen for one of the newly relaunched stores: “For many years Wilko has been an intrinsic part of The Maltings and we’re delighted to have it back!”
