My son and I went in Hudson's Bay Kitchener Thursday at noon, went to the basement to purchase some bed linen and we were the ONLY ones there and had to search for a clerk as well.  No wonder they're bankrupt. 
There was a time a few years ago I recall shopping at the Sears store there, and it was bustling.

Shorty Wave wrote:

I think you could see this coming, which is too bad as they’re the last Canadian department store.

What's this? (Opening soon, Yorkdale mall)  https://www.simons.ca/en?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt4ae_sb6iwMVfjUIBR1-GR0wEAAYASAAEgJNfvD_BwE&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIt4ae_sb6iwMVfjUIBR1-GR0wEAAYASAAEgJNfvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!5784!3!731244886035!p!!g!!simons&gad_source=1

"It's hard not to think of The Bay" was one of their ad campaigns from the 60's/70's. I guess customers have stopped thinking about them.

We really, really need a return of Zellers. I avoided the Bay for most of my life because everything there was just way too expensive. The US has plenty of discount chains, but when it comes to Canada, what do we have? Dollarama? Winners (clothing still way too expensive there)?  Costco (but I'm not paying any stupid membership fee)?   Walmart is probably the only chain that fits, and they're American. Let's not give the US our money and fund our own invasion...

I'm struggling to think of any other big Canadian chain that can fill the void for those in the lower middle-income class that want access to a wide range of items from grocery to low-end clothing to toys, the way Zellers did.

 

Seconded! I've long liked GT for their men's clothing (GT has had clothing buyers in Montreal for many years now) and for frozen food... prices on grocery items are often better than the bigger players like Wally World and Loblaws. The chain was founded in Ottawa in the early '60s, is still headquartered there, owned by the Reid family, and its first and flagship store is still open to this day, across from Bell Media's studios on George Street in the Byward Market.

Not sure how much advertising they do on radio & TV these days, but in the past I've heard radio spots for some GT franchises, and GT corporate used to sponsor the "Happiness File" that ran on CJOH/CTV News during the Max Keeping era.

paterson1 wrote:

Giant Tiger has over 260 stores across the country.  Their stores are smaller, but the quality of clothing is better and often lower price than Walmart.  And they are 100% Canadian owned and growing. 

We drive right past two Walmarts just to go to Giant Tiger.
 

Radiowiz wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

Giant Tiger has over 260 stores across the country.  Their stores are smaller, but the quality of clothing is better and often lower price than Walmart.  And they are 100% Canadian owned and growing. 

They may as well have 6 stores.
280 stores means nothing if the closest stores are way out of the way.
Tons in smaller towns and Ottawa, but if I want to go to one in Toronto, there are NONE downtown. TWO in Scarborough, and a third one god only knows where. (over on Kipling or something) 
All 3 are tough to get to, or very far away. 
If Giant Tiger is so great, the least they could do is open MORE Toronto locations, including one downtown some place.  Heck, why not take over the former Bi way store on Orfus Road that never opened?? 

I LOVE Giant Tiger. I don't love how scarce and far away they are. (in Toronto)

I know of Giant Tiger. This would explain why I have never seen one, let alone been in one. I am certainly not going to waste gas to find one just because they are Canadian.

Giant Tiger doesn't seem to be in larger cities very much so far, other than in Ottawa their home town.  Montreal only has one store, Calgary and Edmonton just a couple each.  They do specialize in small towns, small and medium sized cities.  Likely just a matter of time before they get into larger centres. 

Last edited by paterson1 (March 10, 2025 4:55 pm)

Small town store perhaps, but we have two in Kitchener (population > 275 000)

Aytononline wrote:

If The Bay was a computer I would restart and update.

As for Giant Tiger. I go to this store a few times a week. For me it's like a small Wal-Mart but you can park close to the front door and you don't need to go for a very long walk just to buy some milk. This is a small town store where rent is cheaper. I really don't think this type store would work in downtown Toronto.

Two GT's in Sudbury, and one in Collingwood. I got a  Fender T shirt with a 60's Stratocaster on the front for 8$ recently. 

Let me clarify what I mean when I say city. Toronto is a big place and in parts of Scarborough or Mimico GT might work. I just don't think it would work at Dundas square or Queen and John. I also don't think it would work across from the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Local is everything.

paterson1 wrote:

Aytononline wrote:

Let me clarify what I mean when I say city. Toronto is a big place and in parts of Scarborough or Mimico GT might work. I just don't think it would work at Dundas square or Queen and John. I also don't think it would work across from the Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Local is everything.

I agree, you won't see GT at the Eaton Centre or down the street from the Roy Thomson Hall.  But I am sure in the coming years they will be a presence outside of the downtown core with stand alone stores or locations in strip malls.  They have been growing fairly quickly and so far have had their best success in smaller markets.  I believe they just opened a new store in Vancouver. 

GT is actually doing quite well in Scarborough, with two locations.
Their third location is way out on Kipling near Rexdale in a plaza there. 
I think they want to stick with plazas and subletting grocery stores that recently closed.
That idea might make it tough for them to find space in downtown Toronto.
I would have LOVED to see them move in where Sobey's on Dupont used to be, but the developers went with several "micro stores" instead.  
I also think GT wants to avoid being too close to upscale neighborhoods.
It would have been nice to see them go in on the ground level of the former Honest Ed's, but it just wasn't part of the future planning...
 

Listener wrote:

I used to visit Giant Tiger in cottage country and I liked it very much!  I wish Giant Tiger had more locations in Toronto.  I could use one in the 'west end'!

It surprises me that they didn't go after some of the former Zellers leases that Walmart didn't take.
Galleria's former Zellers space would have been great. It's gone now due to construction (of condos) but it's an idea.
Too bad GT couldn't get some of the former Honest Ed's space.
In Scarborough, they would have done well in Bridlewood mall.

For West end, Bathurst & Queen area might have some space, but it's hard to say for sure if it's the right amount of square footage. 

Last edited by Radiowiz (March 13, 2025 5:25 am)

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2025/03/15/hudsons-bay-to-liquidate-entire-business-still-seeking-additional-capital/

Liquidation, what a sad ending for such a storied business.


The announcement was made late Friday.

It would be great if somehow the company can reemerge, name it Hudson's Bay Heritage, online to begin with, and keep the beautiful multicolored blankets, mugs and other famous pieces alive, in time working with Canadian artists to add homeware items and clothing.

The red maple leaf is having a marketing moment right now and the original logo in the center of a beautiful stylized red maple leaf could be a way to rebrand the company.