Hudson’s Bay Stores Permanently Close Across Canada

A pedestrian passes the Hudson's Bay store in downtown Calgary, on March 20, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Hudson’s Bay stores have now shut down permanently across Canada following the final day of liquidation sales on June 1.

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) has terminated 8,347 employees as of June 1, totalling around 89 percent of its staff.

The remaining 1,017 employees include distribution centre staff, corporate associates, and store employees who will close out the stores over the month and finalize furniture and fixture purchases made during the liquidation sales.

The distribution centres are expected to close by June 15 and HBC is required to vacate each of its stores by June 30.

HBC filed for creditor protection in March 2025, citing “significant challenges” in its ability to pay landlords, vendors, and suppliers. HBC representatives said in a March 7 court filing that the company would be “unable, within the next several days, to meet its employee payroll obligations.”

HBC is Canada’s oldest company and was incorporated in 1670 as a fur-trading enterprise. By the middle of the 19th century, the company sold furs, blankets, and home goods in a small number of stores across Canada, eventually expanding and becoming known for higher-end products and luxury brands.

Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire announced in a May 15 news release that it would pay $30 million to become the “home of iconic Canadian brands and other intellectual property” of HBC.

Greg Hicks, Canadian Tire president and CEO, said in a statement that while it’s “disheartening” to see HBC come to an end, Canadian Tire is proud to steward the brand, including the iconic HBC stripes and coat of arms.

“This choice feels as strategic as it feels patriotic,” Hicks said. “It builds on our generational connection to life in Canada and it fits our new True North strategy.”

“The Stripes will add beautifully to our portfolio of owned brands alongside other Canadian favourites that we have fostered and grown, and The Bay and its brands have long been known for their strength in categories that our customers will seek in our stores and online,” he said.

Court filings from May 26 indicate that if the court approves of the $30 million deal between the two companies by July 15, Canadian Tire will own HBC’s logos and catchphrases, including rights to the retailer’s original name: The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay.

Among the taglines Canadian Tire will own are the Zellers’ “Lowest price is the law” slogan, as well as “Shopping is good,” “More than you came for,” “Everything under the sun,” and “Official store of Christmas.”

“Canadian Tire and the Hudson’s Bay Company are among the nation’s longest-standing companies, with a combined Canadian heritage measured in centuries,” Hicks said in the statement. “Some things are just meant to stay Canadian.”

Lease Locations

The May 26 court filings say that HBC entered into an agreement to assign 28 lease locations in Alberta, B.C., and Ontario to Ruby Liu, billionaire and chairwoman of Central Walk, a global real estate company that owns several shopping centres.

The assigning of the lease locations to Liu is conditional upon landlord consents and court approval, and would be for the purpose of “launching a new modern department store concept in Canada.”

A May 23 press release from Central Walk said that priority for employment opportunities at the new department stores would be given to former HBC employees, and that priority for suppliers and vendors would be given to those who previously partnered with HBC.

“Central Walk Canada is planning to conduct a series of transformative initiatives aimed at fostering intergenerational connections, promoting active lifestyles, and empowering youth through meaningful engagement as part of this transaction,” Liu said in a statement.

Jennifer Cowan and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.