Wickes Inc.
                                         706 North Deerpath Drive
                                           Vernon Hills, IL 60061
                                                   TRADED: NASDAQ
                                                     SYMBOL: WIKS




AT THE COMPANY:                  AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS
                                 BOARD:
George Bajalia, CFO              Jeff Wescott -- General
(847) 367-3551                   Inquiries:
                                 875 N. Michigan Avenue
Jim Hopwood                      Chicago, IL  60611
(847) 367-3552                   (312) 266-7800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1997


        WICKES ANNOUNCES MAJOR OPERATIONAL RESTRUCTURING;
 EXPECTS TO REPORT THIRD QUARTER REVENUE AND MARGIN IMPROVEMENTS

Vernon Hills, IL, October 17, 1997 -- Wickes Inc. (Nasdaq:  WIKS)
today  announced a major operational restructuring to  streamline
operations  and focus on its core professional builder  business.
Wickes  will divide its operations into four segments;  18  Major
Markets,   79   Conventional   Markets,   Wickes   Direct,    and
Manufacturing.    Each  of  these  distribution  channels   offer
different   services  and  in  some  cases  different   products.
Overhead costs and programs not directly tied to supporting these
business  segments will either be sold or discontinued  by  year-
end.   For  the twelve months ended June 28, 1997, these expenses
and discontinued operations reduced operating income by more than
$4.5 million and contributed $4.4 million, or $0.54 per share, in
net losses.

"The  pro forma effects of these major restructuring actions  are
substantial," said J. Steven Wilson, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer.   "We  believe  these cost and program  reductions  will
allow  the  Company to focus better on its core builder  business
and  improve its operating performance.  Our current major market
program, remerchandised conventional market program, direct sales
and  value added manufacturing operations will continue to be key
components of our business."

The  Company  also indicated that it expects to report  continued
revenue  and  gross margin gains when it publishes third  quarter
results  later  in the month.  Operating and net income  for  the
third  quarter  are expected to be positive but  lower  than  the
third  quarter of 1996 due to continued investments in its  store
reset, new market initiatives and other pilot programs.

Included in the Company's non-core programs expected to  be  sold
are:   the  Company's  mortgage lending  program,  the  Company's
utilities  marketing operations and its internet  operations  not
directly  related to its building supply business.  In  addition,
the  Company's  remaining investment in its  Russian  timber  and
logging




                            - MORE -
operations  will  be  written off by year-end.   For  the  twelve
months  ended June 28, 1997, the Company's results of  operations
included more than $1.5 million in SG&A spending related to these
programs  and $2.0 million in losses on its equity investment  in
Russia  which contributed a combined $2.2 million, or  $0.27  per
share, in net losses during this twelve month period.

The Company has further reviewed its administrative structure and
has reorganized certain functions for increased efficiency and is
implementing  an  overall 15% reduction in headquarters  staffing
levels.   These changes will result in approximately $2.0 million
in  SG&A  savings on an annualized basis.  For the twelve  months
ended June 28, 1997, the Company's results included approximately
$1.9 million in SG&A spending for these eliminated positions  and
$1.1 million, or $0.135 per share, in net losses.

Underperforming  centers recently closed are  Gurnee,  IL;  North
Haven,  CT  and  South Haven, MI.  In addition, the manufacturing
operation  located  in  Mansfield,  OH  is  being  combined  with
manufacturing  sites  throughout the  Company.   For  the  twelve
months  ended  June 28, 1997, these operations reported  combined
operating losses of $1.1 million and contributed $1.1 million, or
$0.135 per share, in net losses.

"We are pleased with the continued improvement in our strategy to
serve the professional segment," added Wilson.  "Our professional
mix  has  grown to 86% through the third quarter of 1997 compared
to 84% and 81% in 1996 and 1995, respectively.  We have also been
successful  expanding  our product mix and manufacturing  margins
resulting in higher overall gross margins."

Beginning  in 1997, the Company increased its emphasis  on  Major
Markets  which serve the large national builder by  expanding  in
three  of  these high growth markets. Through the first  half  of
1997, sales in these three  Major Markets have increased 30%,  or
$6.5  million,  over  the same period last year.   In  the  third
quarter,  sales  growth continued -- increasing  46.1%,  or  $5.1
million over last year's third quarter.  The Company stated  that
the  startup  costs and capitalized investments  of  these  three
Major Market expansions were $346,000 and $297,000, respectively,
through  the  second quarter ended June 28, 1997.  "We  are  very
pleased with this initial growth," stated Mr. Wilson.  "We remain
committed  to  and  confident in the  market  potential  of  this
business  segment and are in the beginning stages of rolling  out
this program into two additional markets."

The  79  Conventional Markets or "Reset Centers" are  located  in
smaller  markets  and  serve small to  medium  builders  and  R&R
contractors.   The  Company  has  completed  remerchandising  and
remarketing programs in four Reset Centers to better support  the
dominant  professional customer segments, the repair and  remodel
contractor  and  the  custom  homebuilder.   An  additional  four
centers  will  be  reset  by  October  31,  1997.   Tool   rental
operations are now present in 15 of these centers and represent a
very profitable opportunity for the Company in future quarters.

Second  quarter sales (of the two Reset Centers) increased  51.1%
over  last year's second quarter and third quarter sales (of  the
four  Reset  Centers) increased 16.8% over the comparable  period
last  year.   Mr.  Wilson  added,   "Management  will  focus   on
improving the overall operating and marketing plans of the  eight
completed  Reset Centers during the winter months to perfect  the
strategy.   We will then continue the reset of other conventional
market centers in the spring."  Through the second quarter  ended
June  28,  1997, the Company has invested $239,000 in pre-opening
reformat  costs  and  inventory  liquidations  and  $129,000   in
capitalized investments to support these Reset Center efforts.




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Wickes  Direct,  the Company's direct ship division,  complements
the  other Wickes operations where direct shipment provides added
services  and  value to our customers and gives the  company  the
ability  to  expand economically into new markets  not  currently
being  served as well as internationally.  Sales in this division
have  grown  substantially, with increases  of  166.0%,  or  $3.1
million,  and  283.0%, or $7.7 million, in the second  and  third
quarters,  respectively, over comparable  periods  in  the  prior
year.

To  complement  the  expansion  of  center  operations  in  major
markets,   Wickes   has   greatly  expanded   its   manufacturing
operations,  which  are now a core focus of the  Company.   These
expanded manufacturing operations will allow value-added products
and  services  to  be  provided to  Wickes'  customers  in  these
markets.   By year end, the Company will have an annual  capacity
to  panelize 15,000 houses, manufacture 15,000 truss packages and
pre-hang  over  300,000  interior and exterior  doors.   Start-up
expenses  and capitalized costs associated with the expansion,  a
portion  of  which are included in the major market totals,  were
$248,00 and $453,000, respectively through June 28, 1997.

Wickes Lumber Company is headquartered in Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Wickes is one the largest suppliers of building materials in the
United States and had over $848 million in sales in 1996.
Serving builders, trade contractors, remodelers and serious-do-it-
yourselfers, Wickes distributes materials nationally and
internationally, and operates building centers in 24 states in
the Midwest, Northeast and South.  Wickes'  component
manufacturing facilities produce pre-hung door units, window
assemblies, roof and floor trusses and framed wall panels.
Further information and services can be located at the Wickes Web
site, http://www.wickes.com.

Safe Harbor For Forward-Looking Statements
------------------------------------------     
     Statements contained herein which are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created
thereby.  For a summary of important facts which could cause the
Company's actual results to differ materially from those included
in, or inferred by, the forward-looking statements, refer to the
Company's Form 10-K and other documents, which are on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WICKES INC. VIA FACSIMILE AT NO COST,
   SIMPLY DIAL 1-800-PRO-INFO AND ENTER THE TICKER SYMBOL WIKS


                      - TABLES TO FOLLOW -
The pro forma impact of this major restructuring is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                          Six Months Ended 6/28/97        Twelve Months Ended 6/28/97
                          ------------------------        ---------------------------
                                Discontinued                    Discontinued
                                 Operations                      Operations 
                                and Staffing    Pro              and Staffing    Pro
                         Actuals  Reductions    Forma     Actuals  Reductions    Forma
                         -------  ----------   -------    -------  ----------   -------
<S>                   <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>
Net sales                396,654     (8,939)   387,715    863,909    (22,949)   840,960
Cost of sales            305,400     (7,427)   297,973    669,331    (18,632)   650,699
                       ---------   --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Gross profit            91,254     (1,512)    89,742    194,578     (4,317)   190,261
Selling, general and
  administrative expense  84,689     (4,363)    80,326    169,026     (8,677)   160,349
Depreciation, goodwill
and trademark amortization 2,417        (73)     2,344      5,014       (163)     4,851
Provision for doubtful 
  accounts                   583        (65)       518        759        (32)       727
Other operating income    (2,478)        11     (2,467)    (5,672)        32     (5,640)
                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Income from operations    6,043      2,978      9,021     25,451      4,523     29,974

Interest expense          10,411       (274)    10,137     20,989       (627)    20,362
Equity in loss of 
  affiliated company         766       (766)       -        2,018     (2,018)       -                      -
                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Income (Loss) before 
  income taxes            (5,134)     4,018     (1,116)     2,444      7,168      9,612

Provision for income taxes(1,286)     1,568        282      1,490      2,796      4,286
                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Net income (loss)         (3,848)     2,450     (1,398)       954      4,372      5,326
                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
Per share data:        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net income (loss) 
  per common share         (0.47)      0.30      (0.17)      0.12       0.54       0.65
Weighted average common 
and common equivalent 
shares outstanding     8,175,138  8,175,138  8,175,138  8,171,670  8,171,670  8,171,670

EBITDA                     8,460      2,905     11,365     30,465      4,360     34,825


                                       Summary of Growth Programs
                                       --------------------------
                                            Quarters Ended
                                            --------------
                         3/29/97    3/30/96    6/28/97    6/29/96    9/27/97   9/28/96
                        --------    -------    -------    -------    -------   -------
Major Markets (a)
-----------------  
  Sales $                 12,729     10,065     15,277     11,481     16,190    11,081
  Growth %                  26.5%                 33.1%                 46.1%

   Pre-opening costs through 6/28/97 (c)           346
   Capitalized investment through 6/28/97          297
   (a) includes results for operations in Denver, CO;
   Raleigh/Charlotte, NC and Pensacola, FL.

Conventional Market Resets (b)
------------------------------   
   Sales $                                       5,251      3,475      7,973     6,825
   Growth %                                       51.1%                 16.8%

   Pre-opening costs through 6/28/97 (c)           239
   Capitalized investment through 6/28/97          129
   (b) includes results of two centers reset in the second quarter
       and the results of four centers in the third quarter.
   (c) third quarter pre-opening costs and capital investments will
       be reported with the third quarter financial release.

                             - ### -
</TABLE>