'Pretty emotional': Calgary Hudson's Bay staff, customers reflect on retail empire's demiseon March 15, 2025 at 8:23 pm

News of an historic retail empire’s looming liquidation had staff at the Hudson’s Bay Market Mall location huddled in sombre reflection on Saturday, some in tears. Read More

None of the employees knew when the store would close or when their last day on the job would be. They’re among the 9,364 Bay employees who could well be out of a job soon

None of the employees knew when the store would close or when their last day on the job would be. They’re among the 9,364 Bay employees that could well be out of a job soon. Signs of the chain’s impending collapse have been apparent at the store for months, if not years.

Bay closing — The Chinook Centre location of Hudson’s Bay Co. in Calgary on Saturday. Photo by Brent Calver /Postmedia Calgary

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News of an historic retail empire’s looming liquidation had staff at the Hudson’s Bay Market Mall location huddled in sombre reflection on Saturday, some in tears.

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“It’s pretty emotional for everyone, we were always hopeful,” said one employee.

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“I’ve worked with the Bay my whole life.”

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As she spoke, a colleague turned away, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

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A woman tending to a counter in the store’s cosmetics department spoke quietly about her employer’s predicament with another staff member.

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“We only want to hear some good news,” she said.

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But her co-worker said talk of Hudson’s Bay executives still seeking a financial lifeline left her with little hope.

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None of the employees knew when the store would close or when their last day on the job would be. They’re among the 9,364 Bay employees that could well be out of a job soon.

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Signs of the chain’s impending collapse have been apparent at the store for months, if not years.

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The sliding glass doors at its north entrance no longer work, possibly a sign of the Bay’s inability to afford maintenance services.

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Customers wanting to access the second floor are warned by an attendant there’s no functioning down escalator, and that they’ll have to exit by an outdoor fire escape.

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A manager politely requesting a reporter conduct interviews outside the store summed up the feeling among staff.

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“It’s a tough time,” he said.

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The Bay operates four other stores in Calgary — at Southcentre Mall, CF Chinook Centre, downtown and Sunridge Mall.

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In 2021, the Bay downsized its 112-year-old downtown location from seven to three floors while in recent years, some of its locations including a few in Calgary have experienced intermittent closures as unpaid bills piled up.

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In August 2023, the Bay’s Banff store shut its doors after a presence in the mountain resort town dating back to 1935.

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On Saturday, Greg Long and Darlene Selby wistfully perused the chain’s iconically patterned blankets in the Market Mall store.

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“I can remember at Christmas, my grandparents gave us these Hudson’s Bay blankets,” said the 70-something Long.

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“Maybe we’re just too small a country to support something like this now … maybe this space will become a Walmart.”

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With the economic and sovereignty threats coming from the U.S., losing such an historic national anchor whose pedigree goes back 355 years makes the blow even harder, he said.

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