Shoppers at St. Catharines’ Pen Centre will soon see liquidation signs at the Hudson’s Bay store as the location wasn’t spared from the retailer’s nationwide closure plan. The store will begin its liquidation sale on March 25, 2025, as part of a larger restructuring effort affecting most of the iconic Canadian department store chain’s locations.
Hudson’s Bay announced that 74 of its 80 stores across Canada will close permanently, with only six locations excluded from the liquidation process. The Pen Centre location isn’t among those being saved, which include the Toronto flagship on Yonge Street, Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, and three Quebec stores.
The company filed for creditor protection in March 2025, citing financial challenges and reduced foot traffic in downtown areas. Despite attempts to secure restructuring funds, the retailer was forced to pursue liquidation as a solution. A $16 million financing package was approved to maintain short-term operations during the closure process.
Liquidation sales at the Pen Centre location and other affected stores will run until June 15, 2025, with all stores set to be vacated by June 30. The court has authorized Hudson’s Bay to repay DIP financing to Restore Capital and other lenders as part of the revised liquidation plan. The company’s online operations at TheBay.com will continue until April 15, 2025.
Customers should note that gift cards will be accepted until April 6, 2025, but loyalty programs have been suspended. No refunds or exchanges will be permitted during the liquidation period, and employee discounts have been reduced to 10% until early April.
The closure impacts thousands of jobs nationwide, with Ontario facing the largest impact with 32 stores and over half of the company’s 9,364 employees. The Pen Centre location’s closure represents a significant loss for the mall, which will lose one of its anchor tenants.
While the company continues to explore opportunities with landlords and stakeholders to potentially save additional stores, they’ve only confirmed that six locations will remain operating beyond the liquidation period. A decision on those stores must be reached by April 4 to avoid liquidation.
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