A “closing down sale” is being held at Hull’s Homebase store as question marks remain over its long-term fate while ‘talks progress with potential buyers’.
The DIY store off Sainsbury Way, which first opened in 1984, was put on the market in November after the troubled chain collapsed into administration. Consultancy firm Teneo was brought on board as administrators for Homebase and a sale agreement was reached with retail group CDS for the sale of up to 70 stores, securing around 1,600 jobs.
These are being converted into The Range superstores. Meanwhile, rival chain B&Q has agreed to buy five stores, the BBC reports. However, the fate of the Hull store and many others around the country remains unclear.
A spokesperson for Teneo told Hull Live: “All of our stores are continuing to trade, including stores acquired by CDS. From January 2025, Homebase will transfer around 10 stores each month to CDS which will be relaunched as The Range Superstores.
“Talks with prospective buyers for the remainder of the stores are progressing.”
It is not currently clear if a specific date has been set for the Hull store’s closure with “at least 30 per cent” being taken off everything on sale, with discounts of up to 90 per cent on some items.
The Hessle-area store turned 40 last June, first opening four days before the adjacent Sainsbury’s supermarket. At the time, the brand was part of the supermarket chain’s portfolio and the Hull store was its 16th Homebase in the country.
The chain was eventually sold on to a number of different owners, ultimately being taken on by restructuring firm Hilco in 2018 for £1 after making losses. It returned to profitability in 2020 but has since faced difficulties.
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