One of the country’s major department stores is leaving Burlington next month.
Hudson’s Bay says it will close up at the Burlington Centre at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9.
The location has been earmarked for closure for some time with original plans calling for the store to shut down last summer.
However, its stay at the mall was extended, much to the delight of shoppers who have been impressed with the close-out prices.
“Sad to see the Bay go, but the sales have been great,” said Monica Zalenski of Oakville. “I liked coming to this location but I guess this time they are really closing.”
A company spokesperson said there will be no last-minute reprieve this time and the doors of the store will definitely close for good come Feb. 9.
A new tenant is still being sought for the giant retail space that will be left behind at 777 Guelph Line.
Some believe the space may never be filled by the likes of Hudson’s Bay or similar-style department stores because of the changing habits of consumers.
Shopping consultant Dorothy Ramirez said that people are too willing to shop online because of the convenience and the friendly return policies.
“It’s not like before where you had to go to a store to try something on to make sure it fits,” Ramirez said. “Now you order it and if you don’t like it you can just send it back. It doesn’t matter what the item is.”
Some have suggested the space may be carved into smaller stores but a person familiar with the mall’s operation said the hope is that another large tenant will fill the space.
Ramirez, however, said that may be hard to do.
“Eaton’s, Simpson’s, Zellers, Target…none of them are left,” she said. “Those types of stores seem to be gone for good. Walmart? Maybe. Possibly a large specialty shop will give it a try.”
Hudson’s Bay will continue to operate at Mapleview Mall.
Simpson-Sears was the original anchor store for the Burlington Centre in 1969 but it sold its store lease and fixtures to The Bay in 1991.
Major Canadian department store closing one of its Ontario locations
With less than a month until Burlington Centre’s Hudson’s Bay store permanently closes on Sunday, Feb. 9, plans for the retail space are no clearer than a year ago.
City of Burlington staff had no update this week about possible new retail tenants or other proposed uses at the 777 Guelph Line mall’s largest retail space. Neither did RioCan, which owns most of the mall — excluding the Hudson’s Bay space.
Barry Feinstein, president of a Westmount, Quebec-based numbered company which owns the section of Burlington Centre that’s home to Hudson’s Bay, did not respond by deadline to requests for comment on plans for the property after Feb. 9.
The property’s commercial zoning permits a wide variety of retail, commercial, office, hospitality, automotive and entertainment uses.
Residential dwelling units on second and third floors are also permitted under the property’s current zoning.
Across the province, there have been proposals for residential redevelopment of vacant or underused retail space in malls and plazas.
Terry Caddo, president and CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, said the Burlington Centre land is a key local property.
“The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is engaged with community partners and elected officials to ensure the property serves as an economic driver and key community asset for the next 50 years,” Caddo said.
The current owner bought the Hudson’s Bay space in 2015. Land registry documents state the space was valued at $12.3 million, 10 years ago.
Sears Canada held a lease with the Quebec-based owner and subleased the space to Hudson’s Bay. The original sublease was set to expire on June 29, 2024.
The store was originally scheduled to close last June, but the closure was moved February 2025.
Hudson’s Bay spokesperson Tiffany Bourré said this week the lease will not be extended any further and the store will permanently close at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9 (Sunday), after a final regular business day.
“(The) store is open on (Feb.) 9, and that is the last day,” Bourré stated in an email. “We are not renewing our lease, however we do not disclose specific lease terms.”
City of Burlington staff said on Wednesday, Jan. 8 that there are no new or active planning applications or building permit applications for the retail space.
It’s the same message as June 2024, when city staff said there were still no planning or building permit applications for the site — but would not confirm whether there has been any pre-application consultation with the owner.
Hudson’s Bay originally announced a June 2024 closure, in July 2023. At the time, Bourré told the Burlington Post the company continually looks at opportunities to optimize its real estate portfolio. Having another store at Burlington’s Mapleview Mall influenced the decision.
“Given the proximity of Burlington Centre … to Mapleview Mall, Hudson’s Bay has decided to close its Burlington Centre location,” Bourré said in the July 2023 emailed statement.
In June 2024, the company announced the Burlington Centre store would stay open until Feb. 9, 2025, but did not say why
.
“We just made the decision to extend,” Bourré said, last year.
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