SIX Homebase stores will reopen as branches of The Range in days as part of a rescue deal.
The DIY and homeware chain entered into administration in November but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dwason, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range and Wilko.
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The intervention aimed to preserve up to 70 stores, safeguard 1,600 jobs and retain the Homebase brand.
So far 43 new format superstores have opened across the UK and Republic of Ireland since the beginning of the year.
These are The Range stores with Homebase departments, including Garden Centres by Homebase or Kitchens by Homebase.
The Range’s owner has now announced that six sites will open in May.
Homebase stores in Stamford, Market Harborough, Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry, Dublin, and Clitheroe will all reopen under The Range banner next month.
The full list of locations and the dates they will reopen are:
- Stamford – May 2
- Market Harborough – May 2
- Cookstown- May 9
- Tiverton – May 9
- Santry, Dublin – May 9
- Clitheroe – May 16
Once these additional stores reopen, the total number of former Homebase locations confirmed to have been acquired by The Range will rise to 49.
Garden Centre by Homebase departments will be available in the following stores: Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry and Clitheroe.
The Range has opened dozens of new format superstores since January.
The full list of locations and their reopening dates are:
- Pollokshaws, Glasgow – opened January 17
- Christchurch, Bournemouth – opened January 17
- Kings Heath, Birmingham – opened January 17
- Newton Abbot – opened January 24
- Felixstowe – opened January 24
- Blyth – opened January 24
- Stroud – opened January 31
- Putney Road, Leicester – opened January 31
- Blandford Forum – opened January 31
- Penge – opened February 7
- Woking – opened February 7
- Leighton Buzzard – opened February 7
- Staines – opened February 14
- Ashbourne – opened February 14
- East Dereham – opened February 14
- Huntingdon – opened February 21
- Reigate – opened February 21
- Bicester – opened February 21
- Admiral Park, Eastbourne – opened February 28
- Morecambe – opened February 28
- Oxford – opened February 28
- Bodmin – opened March 7
- Loudwater – opened March 7
- Selby – opened March 7
- Craigleith Park, Edinburgh – opened March 21
- Horsham – opened March 21
- Ruislip – opened March 21
- Maidenhead – opened March 28
- Harrogate – opened March 28
- Sligo, ROI – opened April 4
- Drogheda, ROI – opened April 4
- Winchester – opened April 4
- Balloo Park, Bangor, NI – opened April 4
- Sittingbourne – opened April 11
- Frome – opened April 11
- Newmarket – opened April 11
- Portlaoise – opened April 18
- Bishop’s Stortford – opened April 18
- Sevenoaks – opened April 18
- Haverfordwest – opened April 25
- Drakehouse Park, Sheffield – opened April 25
- Rayleigh Weir – opened April 25
- Dublin Nutgrove – opened April 25
Several of the new stores also include Garden Centres by Homebase, which sell a range of house and garden plants.
They are available in the Bangor, Sligo and Drogheda stores.
HISTORY OF HOMEBASE
- 1979: Homebase was founded by the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s and Belgian retailer GB-Inno-BM
- April 1981: The first store opened in Croydon
- October 1981: The second store opened in Leeds
- 1989: Homebase opened its 50th store in Norwich
- 1995: The chain boasted 82 stores and Sainsbury’s acquired all 241 Texas Homecare stores
- 1996-1999: All Texas Homecare stores were converted into the Homebase format
- 2001: Sainsbury’s sells Homebase but retains a 17.3% minority stake until 2002
- 2006: Homebase operated as a subsidiary under the Home Retail Group from October 2006 until 2016
- February 2016: Australian retailer Wesfarmers owner of the Bunnings brand, purchased Homebase for £340million
- February 2018: Wesfarmers reported losses relating to the takeover of £57million in the year to June 2017, and soon decided to implement a review of the business
- May 2018: Hilco bought the hardware store chain for just £1
- 2018-2024: Homebase has closed 106 stores since it was taken over by Hilco Capital
Selected stores also have Kitchens by Homebase departments, where customers can shop a range of kitchen designs and accessories.
Which other retailers have purchased Homebase stores?
A handful of other retailers have stepped in to buy some of the Homebase stores that were not included in the chain’s rescue deal.
Among them is B&Q, which agreed to buy eight of the chain’s stores after they were put up for sale.
Wickes also bought five stores, including a former Homebase that closed before the chain entered administration.
Meanwhile, B&M has confirmed it has acquired the lease for Homebase’s former site at Tweedmouth Retail Park in Berwick.
What will happen to the stores bought by CDS?
CDS superstores said it would buy up to 70 Homebase shops.
It has also taken over the Homebase brand and has relaunched its website, with thousands of products up for sale.
It is in the process of rebranding and opening some of the former Homebase shops under The Range brand.
CDS Superstores has said it plans to open three new stores a week for the next few months.
It has previously said the move to take on up to 70 Homebase sites would see 1,600 staff retain their jobs.
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