Martin Brookes Oakham: Community turns out for emotional send-off as Wilko Oakham Rutland closes its doors

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Community turns out for emotional send-off as Wilko Oakham Rutland closes its doors, Pictures and Video

Community turns out for emotional send-off as Wilko Oakham closes its doors

Wilko Oakham closed its doors for the last time today at 4pm, after the high street retailer fell into administration in August.

The store has been a part of the Oakham community for over 15 years, and its closure has been met with sadness from many residents.

On the day of the closure, a large crowd gathered outside the store to say goodbye. Along with local radio presenter Rob Persani, Rutland and Stamford Sound. Many people had fond memories of shopping at Wilko over the years, and they were sad to see it go.

One customer, who had been shopping at Wilko for over 10 years, said: "I'm really sad to see Wilko close. It's been a great place to shop for years. The staff have always been friendly and helpful, and I'll miss coming here."

Another customer said: "I'm going to miss Wilko. It's been a great place to shop for everything from household goods to gardening supplies. I'm not sure where I'm going to go now."

The staff at Wilko were also emotional on the day of the closure. Many of them had worked at the store for many years, and they were sad to be leaving their customers and colleagues behind.

One staff member said: "I'm really going to miss working at Wilko. I've met so many lovely customers over the years, and I've made some great friends with my colleagues. I'm not sure what I'm going to do now, but I'll miss this place."

The closure of Wilko is a blow to the Oakham community. It is one of the few remaining high street retailers in the town, and its closure will leave a gap in the market.