General Retail News

[rocketphish]

B.C. billionaire Ruby Liu loses court fight to take over Hudson's Bay properties
Judge says landlords for the properties do not have to accept Liu as a tenant

Tara Deschamps · CBC News
Posted: Oct 24, 2025 7:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 24

A B.C. billionaire who spent the summer fighting to move into former Hudson’s Bay properties found herself on the losing end of an Ontario Superior Court decision on Friday.

Judge Peter Osborne ruled that landlords for the collapsed retailer will not be forced to accept Ruby Liu as a tenant.

In his judgment, Osborne said he had “significant concerns” about Liu’s ability to meet the terms of the leases she wanted.

HBC declined to comment on his decision, while a spokesperson for Liu did not immediately respond to messages from The Canadian Press. Both parties have the ability to appeal the decision, though neither has announced plans to.

Major landlords including Cadillac Fairview, Oxford Properties and Ivanhoé Cambridge were opposed to Liu buying 25 former Hudson's Bay leases for $69.1 million.

Osborne’s decision was months in the making and came after he waded through 25,600 pages of arguments from a who’s who of commercial landlords and investors.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ruby-liu-hudsons-bay-court-fight-9.6952982

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

Something, no signage as yet, is moving into the old glebe apothecary.

Exterior had been freshened up, they replaced the old upper floor bay windows and there is definitely work going on the inside.

Maybe the metro next door is expanding into the space?

New store going into Glebe Apothecary…. Grand opening November 22.

Big Kimmy’s Hoard House.

No idea what it’s selling/doing .. google search shows an instagram post but I am not on instagram

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

New store going into Glebe Apothecary…. Grand opening November 22.

Big Kimmy’s Hoard House.

No idea what it’s selling/doing .. google search shows an instagram post but I am not on instagram

It's a vintage clothing and decor shop, apparently.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

New store going into Glebe Apothecary…. Grand opening November 22.

Big Kimmy’s Hoard House.

No idea what it’s selling/doing .. google search shows an instagram post but I am not on instagram

This is devastating news. I was told that Craig's Cookies was looking at that spot.

[rocketphish]

Amazon launches new Same-Day delivery options for Prime members in Ottawa

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published: December 03, 2025 at 8:48AM EST

Ottawa shoppers can now have their Amazon purchases delivered faster in the capital.

Amazon Canada launched expanded Same-Day Delivery offerings in Ottawa on Wednesday, saying it will provide “more convenient and flexible delivery windows” to Prime members ahead of the holiday season.

According to Amazon Canada, Prime members can choose from four Same-Day Delivery options, including two added daytime and afternoon windows.

Amazon says these are the new Same-Day Delivery options for Prime members in Ottawa

New Same-Day Delivery options

• Extended daytime delivery (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Orders must be placed by midnight the night before.
• Afternoon delivery (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Items must be ordered by 10:30 a.m. the same day.

Existing Same-Day Delivery options

• Overnight delivery (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.). Orders placed by midnight.
• Evening delivery (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Items ordered by order by 1:30 p.m.

“With millions of eligible items across multiple categories—from daily essentials to electronics, toys, beauty products, pet needs, and more—Ottawa customers can now get what they need with no additional fees for Prime members on orders over $25,” Amazon said in a statement.

Amazon has also launched a Same-Day storefront, showcasing eligible items for delivery the same day.

The expanded delivery options are also now available in Hamilton, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/am...ery-options-for-prime-members-in-ottawa/

[J.OT13]

Ottawa’s “shoeman” laces up for retirement; Kiddie Kobbler St. Laurent set to close

By Tyler Fleming, CTV Ottawa
Published: December 18, 2025 at 4:27PM EST

A familiar face in Ottawa retail is stepping out after decades as a trusted source for children’s footwear.

After 44 years in the business, Rob “The Shoeman” Krantzberg is retiring, and with no buyers stepping forward, the Kiddie Kobbler on St. Laurent Boulevard could close with him.

“If I was 20 years younger, I would do this for 10 more years but I want to start doing some other things I want to start all the things I’ve said no to for the past decades because work was always a priority. Work has been my first love, my main love,” he says. “There’s nobody that’s come up and wanted to buy it which surprises me so sometime in the spring I’m hoping maybe by the end of March I’ll be able to move out.”

The shop has operated in the same location, at 1177 St. Laurent Boulevard, for more than 20 years, and before that, across the street at St. Laurent Shopping Centre. For many Ottawa families, it has been a rite of passage, a place where first steps, school shoes and growing feet were carefully measured.

“We’ve been coming for 22 years. All my kids and my husband and I, we all buy our shoes here,” says Joan Brant, a loyal customer. “Rob has become like family and he’s got the best service him and his staff.”


Before Krantzberg owned the Kiddie Kobbler shop, he began working at the store part time as a teenager.

“That first day on the job was miserable,” he says. “But the I saw how footwear could benefit a child, that a proper pair of shoes could help a child walk.

That realization led him running toward ownership.

“I made a proposal to the owner as a teenage kid, begged, borrowed and did anything I could to try and put a deposit down on the business,” he says. “And here I am 44 years later, it’s been fantastic. We have such support from the community. They’ve supported me through everything and I couldn’t have been successful if I didn’t have the staff I have.”

Longtime manager Dan Denofsky, who has worked at the Kiddie Kobbler for nearly 25 years, says the atmosphere “the shoeman” created, made the store special.

“I started in university part time, and then I never left,” says Denofsky. “It didn’t feel like a job, so I always had a ton of fun every day when I came to work. We made a real difference in the community.”

For the loyal customer Brant, the emotions are mixed.

“I’m glad that he’s finally taking time off. He deserves it 100 per cent, but still sad,” she says. “But sad in a good way.”

Krantzberg says operations are expected to wind down in March, with the store likely closing shortly after.

Reflecting on his career, Krantzberg says he considers many of his customers family and after 44 years, it’s the relationships he’s built that mattered most.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better career than this one thanks to all the customers that come in and all the children that are so happy to be here,” he said.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ot...-kiddie-kobbler-st-laurent-set-to-close/

[J.OT13]

December 30 interview with Rob from Kiddie Kobbler. Sounds like he's getting more calls from potential buyers.

Really hoping he finds a buyer, for him so he can have some extra retirement funds, but also for the community. And I hope that if someone does buy the store that they keep it as is, with the same helpful and knowledgeable staff, the same 40 year old furniture, the same everything.

My biggest fear would be some corporation buying it, modernizing the store, laying off staff and hiring minimum wage workers who don't care, and then the place would close within a year. Doesn't sound like Rob would let that happen. He's looking for a buyer who wants to keep the soul of the place alive.

Also some background on how he ended up starting the business.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-9...kiddie-kobbler-shoe-store-set-close-year

[rocketphish]

Zellers plans national expansion of new store format that could bring ‘Zellers 3.0’ to Ottawa

Marissa Galko, OBJ
January 23, 2026

Canadian discount retailer Zellers may be making a comeback in Ottawa as the brand pursues national expansion following the success of its new Edmonton store.

In late October, Zellers opened a new standalone location at Londonderry Mall in Edmonton.

“Launching our first store exceeded our expectations in every way,” Joey Benitah, chief operating officer of Zellers, said in a press release Thursday. “The excitement we saw on opening day has continued well beyond the launch, with consistent customer traffic, overwhelmingly positive feedback, and sales performance that continues to surpass our internal targets.”

The opening also marked the official in-store reveal of Zeddy, the store’s mascot.

This week, the retailer said it’s “actively pursuing new leasing opportunities across Canada” and is “focused on securing locations in every major Canadian market, with flexibility at the core of its real estate approach to ensure thoughtful, sustainable growth.”

Though Zellers remains mum on where future stores will be located, retail analyst Bruce Winder told OBJ Friday that he believes Ottawa will be on the list of future markets.

“If one assumes that they’re going to roll out the concept carefully to major markets in Canada, I think it’s fair to assume that Ottawa would be one of those markets,” he said. “Now, I don’t know if it would be one store or two stores. It would depend on how quickly they want to expand.”

If the retailer were to come back to Ottawa, Winder said there is a chance it may take over one or more of the former Hudson’s Bay locations, though perhaps not downtown.

“It’s very much a value-based business model. I would assume that they might look at more economical real estate to make the numbers work … They’re also going to have to look for a value demographic, perhaps (in) malls outside of (downtown) Ottawa in the suburbs,” he said.

Winder said Zellers might see success based on the fact that it’s a recognizable brand to Canadians.

“There’s a high sort of nostalgia feel for Zellers, particularly around the restaurant, which I don’t think is coming back, but also Zeddy. Canadians grew up with Zellers … You’ve got an awareness that’s already there.”

While nostalgia may be a contributing factor, Winder said Zellers shouldn’t put all its eggs in one basket.

“This might hit the sweet spot, as long as they don’t bet on the nostalgia piece being a big part of it, because, at the end of the day, Canadians like nostalgia but they’ve got to make ends meet and they’re not going to pay more for nostalgia.”

Winder added that Zellers may seem more attractive to Canadian shoppers as inflation pushes them to be more mindful of their spending.

“There’s a lot of people who are watching their money right now, who are having a hard time making ends meet. What this offers is an alternate (that is) above Dollarama and Giant Tiger but below Walmart. There is an apparent appetite for value merchandise in Canada right now,” Winder said.

The original concept for Zellers was established in Ontario in the 1920s, with a revival of the brand in 1931. In 1978, HBC bought a majority stake in the company and picked up the remaining interest in 1981. At its peak, Zellers had 350 stores across Canada.

Mounting competitive pressures forced the company to sell many of its leases to American retailer Target and to close the rest of its stores by 2013. The last Ottawa location closed in 2020.

Small “shop-in-shop” Zellers sections were opened inside HBC stores in 2023, but they closed along with HBC locations last year.

Benitah’s family has owned clothing chains like Fairweather and International Clothiers as well as houseware brands Bombay and Bowring. Les Ailes de la Mode Inc., a company the family owns that shares its name with a department store they once ran, acquired the Zellers name, its logo and the rights to mascot bear Zeddy, loyalty program Club Z and the Zellers portrait studio in August 2025.

Calling this recent expansion project “Zellers 3.0,” the company said this week it will consist of “a small-format department store blending heritage with contemporary design,” selling men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories and home essentials.

In October last year, Benitah said he has initially targeted former HBC properties and has been signing leases with landlords for single floors or portions of the space the department store once held that measure no more than 50,000 square feet.

– With files from The Canadian Press

https://obj.ca/zellers-national-expansion-new-store-likely-to-ottawa/

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

It looks like the Eddie Bauer store at Place D'Orleans may soon be gone. I can across this on Google News.

Reports indicate Eddie Bauer will file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy to shutter its approximately 200 North American stores.

The outdoor apparel store has been closing brick-and-mortar stores in the last few years. The CF Toronto Eaton Centre location closed in early 2023. The Oshawa Centre store closed last month.

As of early February 2026, Eddie Bauer had 28 mall and outlet stores across Canada, according to a Retail Insider story.

The Chapter 11 filing applies specifically to Eddie Bauer’s brick-and-mortar store operations under Catalyst Brands, rather than the Eddie Bauer brand or its intellectual property, Retail Insider noted.

Authentic Brands Group owns the Eddie Bauer brand and its core IP, while Catalyst Brands holds the license to operate physical stores, the story noted. So, the brand can continue to operate an online store.

There are a few remaining Eddie Bauer stores in the Greater Toronto Area, including in the CF Shops at Don Mills, Vaughan Mills and Lime Ridge Mall in Hamilton.

The apparel chain has an over 100 year history. Seattle outdoorsman Eddie Bauer started a sport shop in 1920 and gradually grew to a major outdoor clothing brand.

Eddie Bauer entered the Canadian market in the late 1980.

It’s not yet clear when stores will close in Canada.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

It looks like the Eddie Bauer store at Place D'Orleans may soon be gone. I can across this on Google News.

Why only that store? There are also Rideau Centre, Bayshore Shopping Centre, and Tanger Outlets locations.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Why only that store? There are also Rideau Centre, Bayshore Shopping Centre, and Tanger Outlets locations.

The Rideau Centre one closed last week

[rocketphish]

After 6 decades, Steve's Music to close most locations in Ontario, Quebec
Plans to downsize and to focus on online commerce, says Ottawa manager

Nathan Fung · CBC News
Posted: Feb 08, 2026 6:33 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

It's been an institution in the Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal music scenes for decades, but Steve's Music will soon be shutting down almost all of its stores.

On Saturday, the chain announced it was liquidating inventory at all five of its locations.

According to its Ottawa manager, the plan is to close every store save for the one on rue Sainte-Catherine in Montreal.

"I'm kind of at peace with it. I think working day in, day out, we were kind of seeing the trends and the writing on the wall," said Dan Sauvé, who's worked for Steve's Music in Ottawa and Montreal for more than 25 years.

After the news broke, customers like percussionist Jon Granda flocked to the Ottawa outlet Sunday.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/af...st-locations-in-ontario-quebec-9.7080134

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

After 6 decades, Steve's Music to close most locations in Ontario, Quebec
Plans to downsize and to focus on online commerce, says Ottawa manager

Nathan Fung · CBC News
Posted: Feb 08, 2026 6:33 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

It's been an institution in the Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal music scenes for decades, but Steve's Music will soon be shutting down almost all of its stores.

On Saturday, the chain announced it was liquidating inventory at all five of its locations.

According to its Ottawa manager, the plan is to close every store save for the one on rue Sainte-Catherine in Montreal.

"I'm kind of at peace with it. I think working day in, day out, we were kind of seeing the trends and the writing on the wall," said Dan Sauvé, who's worked for Steve's Music in Ottawa and Montreal for more than 25 years.

After the news broke, customers like percussionist Jon Granda flocked to the Ottawa outlet Sunday.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/af...st-locations-in-ontario-quebec-9.7080134

That's devastating. It's been a bad few months for Ottawa staples with Kiddie Kobler on St-Laurent closing a well.

[rocketphish]

Lots of interesting stuff in here...


How Ottawa malls and downtowns are adapting to the new dynamics of shopping

Rob Thomas, OBJ
February 12, 2026

With its distinctive glass cupolas and brick facade against a tree-lined escarpment, Place d'Orleans could be a postcard for the traditional mall. But these days it may also be a bellwether, at the forefront of what could be seen as a retail transformation.

Alex Avery is the CEO of Primaris REIT, which owns Place d'Orleans along with 26 other Canadian malls. He says the departure of Hudson’s Bay from Place d'Orleans and the soon-to-be-opened LRT extension have created an opportunity for multi-residential mixed-use developments in the area.

"Often HBC leases included areas of a shopping centre where building anything was restricted and they were called 'no-build' clauses,” he told OBJ. “But they also often had a minimum required parking ratio or a specific area that they reserved for their own parking. Of course … new tenants coming in to replace HBC will have other site requirements, but very few would be as restrictive as what HBC had in place.” That means that the closure of Hudson's Bay locations has unlocked development opportunities that were contractually frozen until now. With those restrictions lifted, Avery says Place d'Orleans is among approximately 400 acres of land across the country with intensification potential and for which Primaris REIT will be seeking development partners this year.

"It's a great high-income suburb of Ottawa with excellent access to downtown through this new light rail system. And we think it can be affordable as well," Avery said.

And so, with malls potentially becoming part of larger development opportunities and less of a destination in themselves, what survives, what fades and what finds new life? In Ottawa, this shift in the retail landscape is playing out in three ways: suburban intensification, experiential transformation, and community-driven downtown revival.

Potential intensification at Place d'Orleans fits into a wider pattern of mixed-use development centring around malls across the city, where retail is supported by a built-in population and access to transit.

The numbers tell the story. Near the St. Laurent LRT station, a six-tower development was approved in August of last year, with approximately 1,770 units and new park space around Coventry and Belfast roads. Also last year, Morguard filed a proposal for 500 Coventry Rd., with phase 1 alone delivering 309 units. At Bayshore, Ferguslea has proposed building a highrise with twin towers of 37 and 40 storeys respectively, while a proposal for a 30-storey rental building with roughly 330 units near the Pinecrest LRT station was filed by Brigil in late 2022. Call it densification by design. Ottawa's Official Plan champions transit-oriented development and 15-minute neighbourhoods. Areas designated as mixed-use centres, such as St. Laurent, are earmarked for a mix of housing and retail. A plan approved in January 2026 for the Pinecrest and Queensview LRT stations promises the same. As does the draft Orleans Corridor Secondary Plan, in study phase since 2019.

Ian Lee, associate professor with Carleton’s Sprott School of Business, admits the departure of HBC and the arrival of the LRT system have created unique opportunities around malls, but notes the trend predates current planning language.

"Densification of the ‘burbs is merely accelerating what was already happening for decades," he said, noting that people have always wanted to live where they shop and shop where they live, a fact demonstrated in years of traffic studies.

The demolition of Westgate Shopping Centre, Ottawa's first enclosed mall, may mark the end of an era, but does not suggest the end of shopping malls altogether, rather a revolution. A 2022 report by Deloitte Canada warned that post-pandemic malls faced a turning point due to the normalization of e-commerce and a drop in foot traffic that pre-dated lockdowns. Successful malls, the report said, would emphasize the shopping experience, integrate online technology and reinvent themselves as multi-purpose destinations.

There are several examples in Ottawa. St. Laurent Shopping Centre recently modernized its retail mix with the addition of in-demand brands like Sephora and H&M, as well as a new Bikini Village and La Vie En Rose flagship store. In a news release announcing the moves last year, general manager Amy Rozario described the changes as creating "an energetic destination for the Ottawa community as well as offering a variety of experiences" that go "beyond retail."

This approach is evident elsewhere. Two amusement facilities are proposed in or adjacent to malls in Kanata. An application filed with the city indicates that FunHaven will launch a second location within Hazeldean Mall, while a new Sunny Foodmart and indoor amusement park have been announced not far from Tanger Outlets. And retail analysts have suggested that gyms and fitness centres, pickleball courts, arcades or other entertainment venues would make sense for some former HBC locations.

"The retail bricks-and-mortar have to do more than just offering the same stuff on the shelf that you can buy from e-commerce," said Lee. "Retailing is going to become more, shall we say, entertaining. It's going to engage the consumers a lot more and we're starting to see that."

The forces reshaping suburban malls—e-commerce, falling foot traffic, demand for unique experiences—are hitting downtown cores even harder. But downtown Ottawa is fighting back with a weapon malls can't match: hyper-local loyalty.

A series of colourful, free-to-use public event spaces established on under-used street corners in Ottawa's core may seem a simple urban beautification project, but represent the downtown answer to the same challenge: create destinations where shopping is an experience, not just a transaction.

Uncommon Spaces, a pilot project spearheaded by the Centretown BIA that ran from June to October 2025, invited community members to host events and activities at one of three under-used street corners along Bank Street.

Centretown BIA executive director SabriNa Lemay told OBJ that response from businesses was "very positive," despite initial reluctance.

"We heard from a lot of our businesses that there was an increase in sales and there was a positive feeling downtown—the spaces didn't get vandalized like it was feared—which also contributed to what I think was a wellness piece in terms of the mental health that we see on the street as well."

Following the pilot's success, Uncommon Spaces will return and expand this summer.

The approach extends beyond physical spaces. Ottawa small businesses had an “elbows-up” moment in the spring of 2025 when downtown BIAs launched a "buy local" campaign in response to U.S. tariffs. Brand ambassadors wandered neighbourhoods and rewarded loyal shoppers with $100 gift cards to be redeemed in local shops.

"You can't just remain silent in moments like that," Lemay commented to OBJ. "We chose to collaborate and come together because those businesses are our downtown. Shopping local is so important. Don't forget about the small businesses here that still need your support."

It was an initiative that met the cultural moment. At the time, a national survey commissioned by Interac Inc. found that eight in 10 Canadians were actively seeking Canadian-made products, particularly from small businesses in their community, and nearly as many viewed local businesses as "more important" than online retailers. Lemay says small businesses know the value of community investment and placemaking better than most.

"It's our small businesses that make our city great," she told OBJ. "When you're walking down the street and you see banners and you see things looking nice and converted, this is the businesses that are paying for this to happen within their area—and that shows the commitment they have to bringing retail downtown, revitalizing the area and economic development."

Ottawa's post-mall reality is more about reinvention than disappearance. While malls such as Westgate and Lincoln Fields have closed, their fates point to the challenges facing older, smaller properties without easy transit access. Hazeldean's vacancy rate jumped to 50 per cent when Target departed Canada in early 2015, but the addition of a GoodLife Fitness and T&T Supermarket, not to mention a potential FunHaven location, suggests struggling properties can find new purpose.

What remains is adapting. According to Lee, e-commerce will continue to make inroads, becoming as much as 20 per cent of total retail spending, up from 10 per cent today, but will likely never fully replace the experience of in-person shopping.

https://obj.ca/ottawa-malls-downtowns-adapting-new-dynamics-of-shopping/

[phil235]

"Ian Lee, associate professor with Carleton’s Sprott School of Business, admits the departure of HBC and the arrival of the LRT system have created unique opportunities around malls, but notes the trend predates current planning language.

"Densification of the ‘burbs is merely accelerating what was already happening for decades," he said, noting that people have always wanted to live where they shop and shop where they live, a fact demonstrated in years of traffic studies."


I've missed Ian Lee and his insights on, well, everything.

[ponyboycurtis]

The problem with all of Ottawas big mall if you ask me... is that they don't carry much in the way of practical or household goods.

If you aren't looking for watches/jewellery/clothes/makeup a spot like Rideau Center isn't much use to you. St.Laurent feels similar. Bayshore has a Wal-mart at least.

Visiting Lithuania, they have a brand of large scale malls called Akropolis.

I was surprised coming from our mall environment how useful this chain was. You have everything available to you. Large grocery, household goods, PC sales and repair, obviously the previously mention fashion and fashion related stuff. One even had a building supply store. Not quite a Home Depot but significantly larger than a Home Hardware. They were also incredibly busy and not in the Rideau centers... just cutting through or bums trying to stay warm and use the washroom busy.

Ottawa malls are struggling because they are incredibly one dimensional. We don't even have theatres at the mall anymore. Am I supposed to gush over a mastermind toys?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

The problem with all of Ottawas big mall if you ask me... is that they don't carry much in the way of practical or household goods.

If you aren't looking for watches/jewellery/clothes/makeup a spot like Rideau Center isn't much use to you. St.Laurent feels similar. Bayshore has a Wal-mart at least.

Visiting Lithuania, they have a brand of large scale malls called Akropolis.

I was surprised coming from our mall environment how useful this chain was. You have everything available to you. Large grocery, household goods, PC sales and repair, obviously the previously mention fashion and fashion related stuff. One even had a building supply store. Not quite a Home Depot but significantly larger than a Home Hardware. They were also incredibly busy and not in the Rideau centers... just cutting through or bums trying to stay warm and use the washroom busy.

Ottawa malls are struggling because they are incredibly one dimensional. We don't even have theatres at the mall anymore. Am I supposed to gush over a mastermind toys?

Well, the Bay had pretty much all of that stuff, but alas. I think even a hardware store in the Rideau Centre would be very useful. But ideally something like a Canadian Tire or the like would be needed.

[urbanforest]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

The problem with all of Ottawas big mall if you ask me... is that they don't carry much in the way of practical or household goods.

If you aren't looking for watches/jewellery/clothes/makeup a spot like Rideau Center isn't much use to you. St.Laurent feels similar. Bayshore has a Wal-mart at least.

Visiting Lithuania, they have a brand of large scale malls called Akropolis.

I was surprised coming from our mall environment how useful this chain was. You have everything available to you. Large grocery, household goods, PC sales and repair, obviously the previously mention fashion and fashion related stuff. One even had a building supply store. Not quite a Home Depot but significantly larger than a Home Hardware. They were also incredibly busy and not in the Rideau centers... just cutting through or bums trying to stay warm and use the washroom busy.

Ottawa malls are struggling because they are incredibly one dimensional. We don't even have theatres at the mall anymore. Am I supposed to gush over a mastermind toys?

That sounds really great.

Every time I go to the Rideau Centre nowadays, I leave feeling like it was a waste of time. There's so much stuff there, until you realize that it's nearly all the same — overpriced, poorly made, and of little practical use.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

Well, the Bay had pretty much all of that stuff, but alas. I think even a hardware store in the Rideau Centre would be very useful. But ideally something like a Canadian Tire or the like would be needed.

I feel like even the Bay was limited, and very overpriced.

I remember Sears being far more useful, at least the one at St. Laurent.

[SL123]

I noticed yesterday that the Urban Outfitters on Rideau Street has closed. The pop-up Cozey store next door is also gone, and the RBC branch beside it has closed as well. Combined with the closures along the Hudson’s Bay stretch, that whole side of Rideau in front of the CF Rideau Centre is looking noticeably empty.