'New B&M' rumours quashed as replacement confirmed for Birmingham Wilko store

Rumours that B&M would soon be taking over an old Wilko store in Birmingham have been put to rest after shoppers spotted an entirely different name above the door.

Wilko in Acocks Green closed down last September, one of the 400 shops that closed for good after the budget homeware chain fell into administration. The shop had been a feature of the neighbourhood's high street for over a decade, since before the retailer rebranded from Wilkinson to Wilko in 2012.

Its closure left the prominent unit on the corner of Warwick Road and Dudley Park Road empty for over a year, however rumours started swirling when locals spotted workmen at the site last month.

Read more:New store moving into empty New Street unit is 'first in Birmingham'

A post in the local community Facebook group caused a stir when it was suggested that discount giant B&M was the new occupier. The chain agreed to take on 51 shops from Wilko when the brand collapsed, however Acocks Green wasn't on the list.

Others suggested that Heron Foods was moving in, however both suggestions were quashed when a new sign appeared above the door of the vacant plot, confirming that Opus Foods would be 'opening soon'.

The Asian grocery store already runs a supermarket in Coventry, said to be the largest Asian food store in the city. The shop sells spices, fruits, vegetables and daily essentials. BirminghamLive attempted to contact Opus Foods for comment, while B&M and Heron Foods both confirmed they were not planning to open new stores in the area.

The news was met with mixed reactions from residents on social media, with a few people saying they were 'devastated' not to be getting a B&M, while some insisted there was already 'enough food shops in the Green'.

Others were excited at the prospect of a new store opening, as one person wrote: "I think an Asian food store will be great, to be honest. We all love to eat it and cook it, so it's nice to have a local shop to buy it."