Wellingborough's vacant Argos to be brought back into use as local community group set up shop
Wellingborough Eco Group has started moving its Eco Hub to the unit that was previously occupied by Argos in Wellingborough’s Swansgate Centre.
32 Spring Lane in the Swansgate Shopping Centre will soon be home to the Eco Hub, which was previously based out of Swanspool Pavilion.
A spokesman said: “Exciting news – we are moving ECO HUB from Swanspool Pavilion and Gardens to Swansgate Shopping Centre to continue to do great activities with you and good things for the environment.
"The move starts this Tuesday, May 5, but we will still be open this week in the pavilion for Happy Cafe and Food Sharers from 10am until 6pm on Tuesday and 10am till 2pm on Thursday. There will be people available to help with food and for tea and coffee.”
Argos closed the shop in March 2020 due to lockdown restrictions and on November of the same year confirmed it would not re-open, citing ‘changing consumer habits’ as Wellingborough was one of the 120 that remained closed post-Covid.
Now, the space will be used by the Eco Hub to continue its Swap Shop, Food Sharers, SUB and Happy Cafe, while also adding a new space for arts and crafts displays and workshops.
The space will be shared with The Artist’s Window, a charity supporting local creative arts for the benefit of local communities by working with local property owners to bring vacant spaces back into use, helping to ‘revitalise local high streets and shopping centres while supporting the creative arts.’
Wellingborough Eco Group started the Eco Hub in September 2022 to help work towards the group’s overall aim of improving the town’s environment, be it through recycling initiatives, litter picking or weekly services such as the repair cafe or swap shop.
The Eco Group will officially open the space on Tuesday, May 12.