THUNDER BAY - Twenty-eight years ago, Debbie Beaden was busy unloading stock and preparing merchandise to open the doors at the Sears store in Thunder Bay. Now she walks through an empty store and watches as the doors close for the final time.
“It’s kind of a closure for me because I helped open the store all those years ago,” Beaden said. “It’s a closure, but it’s sad seeing all our family because we are a family. We worked together for many years. It’s bittersweet.”
Sears Canada announced last October that it had failed to find a buyer for its assets after being under the Company’s Creditors Arrangement Act and that it would be closing its stores nationwide.
Sunday was the last day for Sears at Intercity Shopping Centre, and dozens of employees, both past and present, gathered for a group photograph outside of the store.
“It has been emotional for those of us who were working and those of us who came back today just to say goodbye to our colleagues,” said Annette Pateman, who has worked at Sears for the last three years. “It has been emotional because you know it’s going to the the last time you hang up a garment or serve somebody on the till.”
Liquidation sales have been held for the last several weeks, with everything available for purchase, from remaining merchandise to shelves and racks.
Pateman said employees have been working hard for the last several weeks during liquidation sales and have been trying to keep up morale during the difficult time.
“The last few days have been hard seeing it become emptier and emptier and all the stock going and going,” Pateman said. “We’ve always tried to work really hard for the customers and give them the best experience and that’s what kept people coming into Sears right to the very end.”
Stacy Wrigley, who has also worked at the retail store for the last three years, added that it has been very surreal seeing the store become empty and knowing it won’t be opening again.
“It was basically you can’t believe that it was closing,” she said. “Sears has been like a family for pretty much everyone. It’s sad that it’s closing because you met such great people and everyone tried to be positive, even seeing everything like it is, and empty.”
Sears now joins other retail giants like Eaton’s and Chapples Department Store to close in the city.
The first Sears store opened in Canada in 1953 in Stratford, Ont. and was known as Simpson-Sears. In 1955, Simpson-Sears store opened in Fort William.
“It’s a part of Thunder Bay,” Beaden said. “It has been for many years. We’ve heard a lot of comments from customers about how they are sad it is closing and that they are going to miss it.”
