Club Z points and affordable lunches: CBC readers share their memories of Zellers
CBC
This story idea came from audience members, like you, who got in touch with us. Email us your Zellers memories or questions about what's next for the brand. We are listening: ask@cbc.ca.
Earlier this week, Hudson's Bay Co. announced that it was resurrecting Zellers, the storied Canadian discount retail chain.
Founded in London, Ont., in 1931, Zellers eventually expanded across the country. It was acquired by HBC in 1978, and at its peak in the late 1990s, had 350 locations.
Zellers's slogan was "Where the lowest price is the law." But after years of competition from big-box retailers such as Walmart, the retain chain officially closed in 2013.
The announcement of Zellers's return — in the form of an e-commerce site as well as a physical presence in existing Hudson's Bay locations — generated a lot of feedback from CBC readers, who shared their opinions on this long-time Canadian brand.
Subhash G. wrote: "Zellers stores were amazing. My wife and I always felt relaxed while shopping at Zellers. Good prices, good products, great customer service. Welcome back, Zellers!"
"Zellers resurrecting? I'm thrilled!" said Roz B. "I have fond memories of shopping for clothes and housewares, walking past the diner and [seeing] folks scarfing down plates of fries ... It was a more genteel, relaxed version of Walmart, and I felt a tug when the stores shuttered. If and when the chain reopens, I'll be there with bells on."
WATCH | Hudson's Bay announces the return of Zellers:
"Our Zellers was great," said Dave C. "It's where I scored a Cabbage Patch doll for my younger sister when they first came out. Both the one in Ottawa at Heron Gate Mall and the one in Dartmouth [N.S.] at Mic Mac Mall were clean, well-stocked and had lots of staff."
"I remember Zellers always having great, fair pricing for everything in their stores," wrote Linda V. "The stores may not have been beautiful, but if you are going to keep pricing down for everyday people, then something has to give... which was fine by me and likely most Zellers shoppers."
For many readers, Zellers was an important part of the community.
"We had a Zellers store in Nanaimo, B.C., and they had a great lunch room which became a meeting place for all the seniors in the area. Food was good and prices reasonable," said Sylvia G. "Community is so important and closing this store had a big negative impact."
"When I turned 15 years old in 1985, my first job was at our local Zellers in Sydney, N.S.," wrote Heather P. "I have the fondest memories of my co-workers and things like 'warm fuzzy awards' given to employees, and Big Z burgers."
"Canada needs something other than Walmart or Giant Tiger," said Anna G. "I hope that [the Hudson's Bay] can make this work. I hate Walmart but do go there for essentials like toilet paper and mops and cleaning supplies."
