In what would perhaps be the biggest comeback of the flipping century, Woolworths is allegedly returning to the British high street.
Famous for selling pick ‘n’ mix and top 40 singles, a tweet posted this morning (October 27), sparked rumours of its unexpected return.
Here to save 2020! Woolworths is coming back to your high street, as a physical store!
A couple of legal things to get sorted, but we’re full steam ahead at Woolworths HQ.
We want to get this right, so we need your help. What do you want at your UK #YourWoolworths? pic.twitter.com/k5BtcYdcAI
— Woolworths UK (@UKWoolworths) October 27, 2020
The tweet read: “Here to save 2020! Woolworths is coming back to your high street, as a physical store! A couple of legal things to get sorted, but we’re full steam ahead at Woolworths HQ.”
They then went on to ask the Twittersphere for their input, posing the question:
“We want to get this right, so we need your help. What do you want at your UK #YourWoolworths?”
Of course this was met with nostalgia and glee, and people reminisced about the good old days of CDs, DVDs and that pick ‘n’ mix.
Woolworths (affectionately known as ‘Woolies’ by its loyal shoppers), was once king of the British high street. It sadly collapsed in the winter of 2008/09 after administrators failed to find a buyer.
A more recent tweet explained that they will open three trial stores in 2021, with locations yet to be announced. They also explained that, as Very own the online store, these stores will be retail only.
Don’t screw this up – you need authentic Woolworths pick and mix, exactly how it used to be! pic.twitter.com/UlZuUlLcXl
— Stephen Cleary (@stephenjcleary) October 27, 2020
If this is true, then it is exactly the news we needed to cheer up 2020. Although not many people are convinced. I’ll admit to approaching the news with intense optimism, but it would be Very 2020 for this to just be one big joke. The faulty link in the account’s Twitter bio is sadly persuading me that it is. Blinded by excitement, what can I say?
That said, I’m still quietly hoping that, by some miracle, I’ll be able to redeem that £1 Woolworths gift voucher that I found when I was moving house a few years ago. (UPDATE: I just wasted half an hour of my life rummaging through my memory box and couldn’t find it. That’ll teach me to never lose hope.)
More to follow. Hopefully.
[Featured image: wetwebwork, Flickr]