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Goodbye to Zellers in Trenton

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario

There are only a few days remaining until the Zellers store in Trenton closes for good. Everything has to go. Zellers are closing their doors across the country and some lucky communities will get a Target store in its place, but Trenton isn't one of those lucky communities. The store will just close. Naturally there are a lot of rumours about what will happen to the building, but I haven't heard anything that sounds remotely plausible yet. I suspect Trenton will have another empty store for a while. It's too bad because Zellers was a mainstay at the Trenton Town Centre since it took over the Kmart all those years ago..

If you need a desk, filing cabinets, store fixtures, shelving or anything like that, Zellers would be the place to go right now, from floor to ceiling, they are selling everything. It's a little depressing walking through the store, it's mostly empty already and the few remaining items are all deeply discounted.

This will be a huge blow to the employees of Zellers, as it was a large store and had a big staff. Jobs are hard enough to find in the Quinte area so the loss of these jobs will have an effect on the whole community.

I suppose I am just as guilty as most other Canadians when it comes to the demise of Zellers. I was just as likely to go to Walmart or shop elsewhere instead of supporting this Canadian company, and from what I gather they had been struggling for a few years now. Apparently many Canadian retailers have been struggling for some time.

 

 

In 2011 the Target Corporation acquired the 220 Zellers stores across Canada and will be rebranding about 100 of them (most likely the more profitable ones). It's a bit of a sad end for this proud retailer that had grown from its humble beginnings as a thrift store for Canadians in 1931, but we've been getting used to the changing retail landscape for quite some time now.

 

I will miss the store. I will especially miss the little cafeteria that served reasonably priced meals with decent portions. I had planned to spend part of my retirement there eating the Zellers meals and grumbling about my life to anyone kind enough to listen. I'm going to have to find somewhere else to do that now. I hope poor old Zeddy, Zellers teddy bear mascot, finds a new home soon.

 

 

 

                                                               

 

 

 

Comments(4)

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Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Malcolm, it's such a shame when small businesses can't keep up with the Target's and WalMart's of the region.  I miss the days of small town mom and pop shops.

Mar 26, 2013 05:38 AM
Jon Kolsky
Kolsky Realty & Management - Long Beach, CA
Licensed California Real Estate Broker

Malcolm~ I love this heartfelt blog. (I guess) the reality is, "brand recognition or bust" 8~) 

Mar 26, 2013 05:39 AM
Larry Lawfer
YourStories Realty Group - Newton, MA
"I listen for a living." It's all about you.

I agree with the above that the power of a Walmart can drive out these smaller businesses and this is sad.  We all want lower priced products and so the businesses who can't buy like a conglomerate have to charge a bit more to stay afloat.  I missed your writing while I was on hiatus. Another wonderfully told story about your region. Thanks Malcolm

Mar 26, 2013 10:21 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Malcolm - That is sad.  Zellers really wasn't that small a chain, either, with many stores across Canada.  It's gone the way of Woodwards and Eatons.  Really a shame.  Zellers offered many people on limited budgets a place to shop.  I really hope someone takes over the old Zellers store in Trenton.  Nothing more depressing than an empty store sitting there.

Mar 31, 2013 04:25 AM