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The Retail Apocalypse

It could possibly be a silver lining regarding Queen West - the gentrification and the resulting high rents pushed out most of the unique small businesses that made the street interesting in the first place. Perhaps there will be an opportunity for shops of that nature to return and reduce the soullessness that started taking hold 20 years ago.
I'd like to share some cautious optimism here too as pandemic times (and post-pandemic times) may create a bit of a re-set for what makes cities actually exciting. Largely via lower retail rents being able to attract more unique and local businesses. But with Queen West, it was largely live music that gave the street its original cachet and cred. And that is one of the hardest forms of business to reopen for the foreseeable. So we'll see.
 
DavidsTea closing 82 stores in Canada and all 42 stores in the U.S. market

July 9, 2020

MONTREAL — Insolvent beverage retailer DavidsTea is closing 82 stores in Canada and all 42 of its stores in the U.S. as it focuses on its e-commerce business and supplying grocery stores and pharmacies.

The Montreal-based company says it is sending notices to terminate the leases at the 124 stores to take effect in 30 days.

It says it will also seek more favourable lease terms for the remaining 100 stores in Canada.

The store closures are part of its restructuring plan after it obtained court protection from creditors under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and Chapter 15 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Company founder and interim CEO Herschel Segal says the closure of "unprofitable stores" will help create a stronger business model for the future and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the brand.

Chief financial officer Frank Zitella says it may permanently close additional stores if it is not able to negotiate more favourable lease terms from landlords.

 
DavidsTea closing 82 stores in Canada and all 42 stores in the U.S. market

July 9, 2020

MONTREAL — Insolvent beverage retailer DavidsTea is closing 82 stores in Canada and all 42 of its stores in the U.S. as it focuses on its e-commerce business and supplying grocery stores and pharmacies.

The Montreal-based company says it is sending notices to terminate the leases at the 124 stores to take effect in 30 days.

It says it will also seek more favourable lease terms for the remaining 100 stores in Canada.

The store closures are part of its restructuring plan after it obtained court protection from creditors under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and Chapter 15 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Company founder and interim CEO Herschel Segal says the closure of "unprofitable stores" will help create a stronger business model for the future and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the brand.

Chief financial officer Frank Zitella says it may permanently close additional stores if it is not able to negotiate more favourable lease terms from landlords.

I buy all my tea from Murchies. No need for the storefront.

 
It could possibly be a silver lining regarding Queen West - gentrification and the resulting high rents pushed out most of the unique small businesses that made the street interesting in the first place. Perhaps there will be an opportunity for shops of that nature to return and reduce the soullessness that started taking hold 20 years ago.

A lot of those shops probably crumbled. It's going to be Walmart and Amazon left standing.
 
A lot of those shops probably crumbled. It's going to be Walmart and Amazon left standing.

What an exciting world we have to look forward to. It boggles my mind that some (including posters here) think Queen West is better now than in the 90's. Sounds like a strong case of recency bias.
 
Muji US filing for bankruptcy. Is the Canadian division a separate subsidiary? I'd imagine if they shut down US operations, they lose significant economies of scale for their Canadian stores.

 
Haven't seen this reported anywhere yet: British luxury shop Mulberry has closed their only two Canadian locations - in Yorkville and Bloor.
 
Brooks Brothers to close 51 stores:


Levi's to cut 700 non-retail jobs (15% of that workforce):

 
Levi's to cut 700 non-retail jobs (15% of that workforce):


Levi's significantly shrunk it's retail footprint in Toronto in the last 10 years, with only three stores remaining in the GTA, excluding the Vaughan MIlls outlet.
 
Le Chateau says there is 'significant doubt' it can stay in business

July 7, 2020

A major Canadian clothing retailer that was struggling even before the COVID-19 pandemic says it's no longer sure if it will be able to remain in business for another year.

Le Chateau, which operates 129 stores in eight provinces as well as some manufacturing operations, issued the dire warning late Monday as it reported its latest quarterly earnings report. Although the results covered a period before the pandemic, the company also noted the significant effects that being ordered to close all of its stores has had on its business.

"There are material uncertainties that cast significant doubt upon [our] ability to continue as a going concern," the company said in a press release accompanying its earnings report.

Those uncertainties predated the pandemic, as the company said it was already in debt and has defaulted on loans. Now, though, the Montreal-based retailer says it needs to obtain new financing to stay afloat.

Although all of Le Chateau's stores had reopened as of last week, the company warned that the pandemic "will have a material and adverse impact" on its business and that it does not expect to fully resume normal operations until 2022.

The company said it is in negotiations with its existing lenders and seeking new sources of financing, while also talking to its landlords about possible rent relief. It announced last week that it is manufacturing up to 500,000 hospital gowns as part of a federal contract.

 
I think with all this retail going under, developers will replace ground floor retail space with street fronting "townhome" units (unless the city gets stubborn about regulations)
 
Le Chateau says there is 'significant doubt' it can stay in business

July 7, 2020

A major Canadian clothing retailer that was struggling even before the COVID-19 pandemic says it's no longer sure if it will be able to remain in business for another year.

Le Chateau, which operates 129 stores in eight provinces as well as some manufacturing operations, issued the dire warning late Monday as it reported its latest quarterly earnings report. Although the results covered a period before the pandemic, the company also noted the significant effects that being ordered to close all of its stores has had on its business.

"There are material uncertainties that cast significant doubt upon [our] ability to continue as a going concern," the company said in a press release accompanying its earnings report.

Those uncertainties predated the pandemic, as the company said it was already in debt and has defaulted on loans. Now, though, the Montreal-based retailer says it needs to obtain new financing to stay afloat.

Although all of Le Chateau's stores had reopened as of last week, the company warned that the pandemic "will have a material and adverse impact" on its business and that it does not expect to fully resume normal operations until 2022.

The company said it is in negotiations with its existing lenders and seeking new sources of financing, while also talking to its landlords about possible rent relief. It announced last week that it is manufacturing up to 500,000 hospital gowns as part of a federal contract.


They haven't had edgy clothes since the 90's.
 

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