News of the closure of Wilko in Great Yarmouth has been described as a 'tragic day' for staff and a 'blow for the town'.
Although there was a sense of inevitability about the announcement, there is shock at how quickly the shutters will come down on the store in Market Gates Shopping Centre.
That will happen in just over a week, on Thursday, September 14 - almost 30 years since the shop opened in August, 1994.
Nick Spencer, manager of the mall, said: "We're disappointed and saddened by the news.
"My thoughts go out to all of the staff who have been working at the store for nearly 30 years."
READ MORE: Wilko to close shops in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft
On Wednesday (September 6), administrators announced the 52 stores that will close following the failure to secure a rescue deal for the whole business.
The homeware retailer announced it was going into administration in August, putting 12,500 jobs at risk.
PwC, which was appointed to oversee the insolvency last month, has been seeking offers from potentially interested firms in an effort to save jobs and stores.
The fate of the Wilko store on Gorleston High Street has not yet been revealed.
Looking to the future, Mr Spencer said he is hopeful that Market Gates will be "able to retain some interest in the unit but it's very early days for us to confirm that".
READ MORE: ‘Lifeline for the borough’ - Market Gates Shopping Centre through the years
Jonathan Newman, Great Yarmouth town centre manager, also expressed sympathy for employees.
"It's tragic news for the staff. They're the people who are going to be hurting the most," he said.
"Some of the staff have worked there for many years. They were familiar faces to people who shopped in the town centre and treated regular customers like friends.
"It will be sorely missed," he said.
Mr Newman also said although the closure had been "on the cards", it was shocking "how quickly the store will close and staff will be made redundant".
Despite the announcement, he said the town centre was "doing well" with footfall "up since the beginning of the year."
READ MORE: Nostalgic photos show glory days of Wilko stores in Norfolk
Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: "I was disappointed to learn the news.
"We had heard B&M were buying stores and were hoping we were one of those, so obviously it's a blow, especially with all the work we're putting into regenerating the town centre, but that will continue.
"We will work with the owners of Market Gates to see what can be done with that space.
"It's a blow to the town and to the people who worked there," Mr Smith added.
READ MORE: New Tesco store inside former Gorleston pub opens this week
In a further setback for the region, the Wilko store in London Road North in Lowestoft will close on Tuesday, September 12.
The store's closure next week leaves another major site prime for redevelopment, and Toby Hammond, East Suffolk council's cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said it was "terrible news."
Mr Hammond said: "The nationwide collapse of Wilko is terrible news for those affected and our thoughts are with the staff who work at the Lowestoft branch, having faced weeks of uncertainty.
"Town centres throughout the country are continuing to experience a period of considerable change and the Lowestoft Town Centre Masterplan, which East Suffolk Council launched in 2020, presents a vision for how the town can and should adapt to these changes.
"This work led to a successful Towns Fund bid of £24.9m and the development of plans for town centre development with the Lowestoft Place board.
"As part of this process, East Suffolk will be hosting a public engagement event about the proposed ‘Cultural Quarter’ in October, which would be located in the heart of the town centre, creating jobs and attracting more visitors to Lowestoft."
Sonia Barker, mayor of Lowestoft, said: "We are disappointed with the announcement that the Lowestoft Wilko store is closing following the company falling into administration.
"Our hearts go out to all the workers from the store and their families who are affected by this news."
The closures come after rival retailer B&M bought up to 51 other Wilko stores in a deal worth up to £13 million.
A spokesman for the retailer has said that there will be redundancies for the team members working at these stores.
Edward Williams, joint administrator, said: "In the absence of viable offers for the whole business, very sadly store closures and redundancies of team members from those stores are now necessary."
It is not yet known what will happen with the Wilko stores in Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn and Dereham.
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