paterson1 wrote:

So sad.  Looks like the company may need to close all 80 Bay stores across Canada.  The old grand family department store chains Simpsons, Eatons, Sears and Hudson's Bay will be gone if this happens.  The Bay still had some classic grand buildings in a few downtowns.  Wonder what will happen to their huge store on Yonge St and the Simpsons tower which is attached to the building?

The only two remaining, Holt Renfrew and Simons, are not classic department stores and are higher end.  Only Simons is expanding and opening new locations.

I count Simons as a department store.
Simons is also not as high end as Holt Renfrew or Harry Rosen.
They are playing it smart though, by not catering to every need the way a traditional department store would.
Best example, (so far) is no dress shoes available to go with the suits they sell.  
I think they should sell dress shoes.
However,
I do agree with SIMONS staying away from running shoes and winter boots if they believe the floor space can go to better use selling anything that sells better.

 

Last edited by Radiowiz (March 15, 2025 10:43 pm)

Binson Echorec wrote:

Hudson's Bay Company founded in 1670. Reigning monarch was Charles II.
Hudson's Bay Company (presumed) dissolution in 2025. Reigning monarch is Charles III.

So - if you had $1-billion, which would you buy: HBC or Corus?
 

Neither.  I'd keep the $1 billion.

paterson1 wrote:

Checking out their website Simons has both men's dress shoes and sneakers for sale.  I agree they are not as high end as Holt Renfrew.  https://www.simons.ca/en/men-footwear--8355

It's Mark's Work Warehouse for me. Great selection of jeans, shirts, shoes and casual slacks at a reasonable price. AND the staff are helpful and easy to find. [At least at the location I shop 401/Weston Rd]

Shorty Wave wrote:

mace wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

Checking out their website Simons has both men's dress shoes and sneakers for sale.  I agree they are not as high end as Holt Renfrew.  https://www.simons.ca/en/men-footwear--8355

It's Mark's Work Warehouse for me. Great selection of jeans, shirts, shoes and casual slacks at a reasonable price. AND the staff are helpful and easy to find. [At least at the location I shop 401/Weston Rd]

 
You’re fortunate mace, as anytime I have tried to shop at Mark’s, the customer service has been terrible, ended up walking out two years ago and haven’t been back since. And since Simons has been mentioned, I like shopping there and hope they open more stores with the Bay folding.

This is why I indicated the specific location. Obviously, from your comment, results may vary significantly.

To paraphrase the old song Camptown Races, "Nobody bet on the Bay."
(With thanks to Retrontario.)

Just to conclude this thread, it appears The Bay has been able to save six of its stores. 

Which six?

According to The Canadian Press report in the Toronto Star:

"The six stores being saved from the liquidation sale include the flagship location on Yonge Street in Toronto, as well as a store in the city’s Yorkdale mall and another farther north in Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, Ont. The remaining three span Montreal, the Carrefour Laval mall and Pointe-Clare, Que."

The Hillcrest/Richmond Hill location was extensively renovated about seven to eight years ago.  I'm almost glad to see that one spared.  I hate seeing costs outlayed for no good, productive reason.

The two downtown Bay locations in Montreal and Toronto could really capitalize as destination stores for tourists.  Both are big old classic department stores and with The Hudson Bay as the oldest company in North America, a great draw for millions of tourists from all over the world who visit Toronto and Montreal.

Nobody else can make that claim, so take advantage and run with it.  Especially for tourists from Europe, and other overseas countries, the upper end pricing at these stores won't be a negative.  They should both highlight Canadian clothing and products.  This is what tourists want to see and buy.     

For HBC to survive they need to increase there in store customer service, A number of years ago I went to the one in Oshawa, I really did need help that day. After about 20 minutes and not finding anyone to talk with I left and have never went back. Having them close down is of no surprise to me. Best of luck to the person or company that buys what's left. I do hope if it survives it returns to  Canadian family
ownership who are well liked in the community. There is always hope.

I'm worried the Bay Clearance centre store @ Eglinton Square will become an International clothiers clearance centre.
Gawd it will be a sad day if that happens. 
I'm going to miss the Bay @ Eglinton Square.
It's sad they couldn't keep it going as a clearance centre.

RadioActive wrote:

A caller to Alex Pierson's show on AM640 Monday claims he was just at the Bay and was watching as people were walking out of the store without paying for their items - because the remaining staff knows they're getting fired sooner than later and they don't care anymore. 

Who do they think they are - the LCBO?

What a sad ending to such a storied franchise. 

I'd never take as gospel truth a caller's claim of that sort ... it's as valid as someone saying something on Facebook - it might be true, it might not be true, it might be somewhere in between. But I agree about the sad ending (even if they do save a core group of stores). I can well imagine staff could care very little unless they think they somehow have a future there. We were at the downtown store yesterday (Sunday) around noon and the staff we dealt with were pro. You'd have been hard pressed to know, from them, that anything was wrong unless you asked. There were more staff than shoppers. Staff told us that the real bargains will not be at the six stores they hope to retain but at the others that will be liquidated starting Monday. And, yes, we paid for the very few items we bought.