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# B&M Bargains set to take over Lichfield’s former Woolworths store
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/bm-bargains-set-to-take-over-lichfields-former-woolworths-store/
- Published: 2009-09-01T16:44:34.000Z
- Updated: 2011-01-05T18:50:26.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Business, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 21:52, News

![The Woolworths store in Lichfield. Pic: Rachel Groves](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/lichfieldwoolworths.jpg "lichfieldwoolworths")

The former Woolworths store in Lichfield. Pic: Rachel Groves

**EXCLUSIVE:** Lichfield’s former Woolworths store is set to reopen under the B&M Bargains brand.

The Market Street site is currently being kitted out by shopfitters in the company’s distinctive orange and blue colour scheme.

Apart from a short-term tenancy by an electrical sale business the site has been empty since the demise of Woolworths in January.

However the site is now set to re-open under the B&M Bargains brand, although no opening date has yet been confirmed.

Lichfield District Council Leader Councillor David Smith admitted he was pleased to see the site occupied once more. He told The Lichfield Blog:

> “I’m over the moon to see the premises occupied again. I’m very optimistic that other stores that are empty in Lichfield will be occupied again soon. This added to the Friarsgate development shows that Lichfield is well-positioned as we exit a recession.  
>  
> “During the Friarsgate consultation one of the things that we heard was appealling to retailers was that you could never come to Lichfield without it being crowded with shoppers. While some areas are only busy on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Lichfield is a six or seven day a week shopping city – and that can only be a good thing.”

B&M Bargains was formed in 1976 in Blackpool and is described on the company’s website as “one of the leading variety retailers in the UK”.

The company – which currently has more than 100 stores and employs 5,000 people across the UK – has been one of the retailers that has taken over many of the prime high street locations left unoccupied following the collapse of Woolworths.

Rival firm Home Bargains had shown an interest in the Lichfield city centre site, but [told The Lichfield Blog](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2009/06/02/retailer-rules-out-taking-on-former-woolworths-store-in-lichfield/) that the short term nature of the tenancy available due to pending redevelopment had led them to end their interest.