After filing for bankruptcy protection, the vegan beauty brand, The Body Shop, is closing 33 of its 105 stores and its online shop in Canada. 

It was announced on Friday, March 1st, 2024, that The Body Shop would be downsizing, having filed for a Notice of Intention (NOI) in order to “provide breathing room” to re-strategize and restructure for the future. 

The company shared in a news release, “The Body Shop Canada is commencing this NOI process to obtain a stay of proceedings to provide additional breathing room while it evaluates its strategic alternatives and implements certain restructuring initiatives.” 

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The website is already inactive, stating on its homepage, “Thanks for visiting” – “We’re currently undergoing planned maintenance, but don’t worry we’re due to be back online soon.” 

Currently, all of The Body Shop’s Canadian locations are still open, with 33 designated stores planned to close soon, which includes 5 stores in Toronto, totaling 15 stores in Ontario. 

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The closing stores are commencing liquidation sales immediately, says The Body Shop. So, if you want to stock up on your favourite body butters, creams, makeup, and other beauty products from the brand (at a discount), now is the time!

The stores closing in Ontario are listed below:

  • Bayview Village (Toronto)
  • Queen Street East (Toronto)
  • Rideau Centre (Ottawa)
  • Carlingwood Mall (Ottawa)
  • Fairview Park Mall (Kitchener)
  • Cataraqui Town Centre (Kingston)
  • Lynden Park Mall (Brantford)
  • Stone Road Mall (Guelph)
  • Dufferin Mall (Toronto)
  • The Shops at Don Mills (Toronto)
  • Toronto Pearson Term. 1 (Toronto)
  • Lambton Mall (Sarnia)
  • Place d’Orleans (Orleans)
  • Timmins Square (Timmins)
  • Lansdowne Place (Peterborough)

Visit your nearest closing Body Shop location to say your farewells and participate in the liquidation sale!

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After almost 30 years of business, tech and electronics discount retailer Factory Direct (FactoryDirect.ca) is closing all 14 of its locations.

Since COVID-19, the company has experienced declining sales and an increased overhead. Resulting in eventually having to file for bankruptcy. 

Factory Direct is a one-stop-shop providing discounted computers, phones, TVs, appliances, and even some home and beauty products. 

Photo: FactoryDirect.ca

A closing liquidation sale has begun, with over $10 million of inventory to clear out. The sale will include a huge selection of brands such as Apple, Samsung, LG, Cuisinart, and so many more. 

If you’re on the hunt for new a new gadget, you’re going to want to take advantage of this liquidation sale while you can. You can shop for everything from TVs to toys at an extra-discounted price!

Photo: FactoryDirect.ca

“This is a unique opportunity for customers to get the top branded products at liquidation prices. Due to the most recent economic conditions, it’s becoming more apparent that businesses are having a difficult time managing operations. FactoryDirect.ca has been a consistent source of incredible deals for a long time and it is such a shame to see this almost 30 year old, Canadian Owned discount retailer with hundreds of employees have to close it’s doors forever” shared Alex Hennick, President of A.D. Hennick & Associates in a press release

Aside from visiting one of its remaining 14 locations, sale items are also listed online, available to shop at up to 50% off!

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By the end of January, Old Navy will close 2 of its major stores in the Toronto area. 

The spots closing are located in Toronto’s Eaton Centre and Markville Shopping Centre, both of which are CF Malls. 

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Although the store known for its affordable price points and providing accessible fashion for the whole family is closing 2 of its major stores, customers will still be able to shop Old Navy at its many other locations across the GTA and online. 

Old Navy shared with Global News that it is “evaluating its real estate portfolio to ensure a healthy fleet of stores that can provide the best possible experience for our customers.” resulting in the final decision to close the 2 locations. 

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Old Navy is under the same ownership as Banana Republic, Gap, and Athleta, with the reputation as the most affordable option under the umbrella. 

We can only hope that more Old Navy locations don’t follow the same fate!

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It’s a sad day for beauty lovers all around. The hugely popular Canadian beauty brand, Bite Beauty, has announced it will be closing. 

Bite Beauty posted on its Instagram account today thanking its dedicated community for the past 10 years. 

There was no date attached to the shocking post, only that it will close later this year. 

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Many fans have commented under the post on how saddened they are after reading about the closure. Bite Beauty has definitely been a brand that introduced many of us to the beauty world, so it’s totally upsetting to see it go. 

But, there is some good news. 

You won’t have to fully say goodbye to Bite Beauty, as all nine locations of its Lip Lap will be staying open. This includes the spot in Toronto with more on the rise. So, if you do have a fave lipstick, you’ll just have to swing by the lab to mix it up yourself! 

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Plus, before closing, all Bite Beauty is on sale online for 50% off. That’s right, half off the brand’s entire collection. You can browse the deal at bitebeauty.com or sephora.com.

Shop our top Bite Beauty products before they’re gone!

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Unfortunately, another one bites the dust. A popular Hudson’s Bay in Toronto is closing its doors in the next few months. 

The Hudson’s Bay located at 44 Bloor Street East will shutter on May 31, after operating for almost 50 years. 

According to an HBC spokesperson, Tiffany Bourré, the Hudson’s Bay Queen Street flagship is located so close to the Bloor Street one, that it makes sense to close it down. 

On the other hand, CityNews reported that HBC actually had quite a bit of rent payment issues during the lockdown with a handful of its stores.

This could also be a major reason that led to the decision of closing. 

Hopefully, this isn’t a sign of what has to come for other Hudson’s Bay stores in the future, as taking a browse around the department store is always a great shopping trip. 

If you can make it out to the location before the closing date, it might be worth it in case of any large blowout sales!

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Obsessed with scoring designer items at a discount? Saks OFF 5th is a fan favourite when it comes to deals, and unfortunately, a massive location is closing. The Saks OFF 5th in Markham, situated at 5000 Hwy 7, is shuttering its doors for good. 

According to BlogTo, the spot will close on April 16. 

Although bargain hunters won’t be able to browse discounted Prada and Valentino at the Markham location, Saks OFF 5th still has a handful of stores open around the city. 

These include a location in Sherway Gardens, in Etobicoke, in Vaughan, and in Halton Hills. 

Plus, the sister store, Saks Fifth Avenue, is still operating its location in downtown Toronto. 

A spokesperson for Saks told BlogTo, “After careful consideration, Saks OFF 5TH has decided to close its Markville location. Through the regular course of business we continually evaluate store performance and other factors, and, from time to time, may determine it necessary to close a store.”

Even though it may be sad news, you do have quite a bit of time to shop the racks for deals before the closing date!

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It’s, unfortunately, time to say goodbye to a major Zara location in downtown Toronto. The Zara at 50 Bloor Street West will be closing after operating for around 22 years. 

According to Retail Insider, the spot will shutter at the end of this month.

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The closing Zara location is two floors, which once was split between men’s and women’s fashion until a recent change to strictly womenswear throughout. 

Occupying over 10,000 square feet, it’s definitely worth it to browse the racks one last time.

Plus, the retailer just had a massive sale, so you may be able to even snag some deals. 

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The fast-fashion brand has always been a staple shopping destination for low-priced basics, as well as ultra-trendy apparel, footwear, and accessories. 

Even though you may no longer be able to shop around at the Yorkville location, you can definitely check out some other Zara stores in the city.

These include a storefront on Queen Street West and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre, and of course, if you don’t want to leave the house, you can make a purchase online!

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There will be two fewer designer boutiques the next time you take a browse at the Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Toronto.

According to Retail Insider, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior have both shuttered at the 176 Yonge Street location. 

Both brands are owned by LVHM which is a French-holding multinational corporation specializing in luxury goods. 

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The Louis Vuitton boutique has operated in the Saks Fifth Avenue spot since the opening of the department store in 2016. It took up 1,200 square feet and offered a beautiful range of classic bags and accessories.

Dior then opened its two boutiques a few months later. One of the locations was on the main floor which carried bags and accessories, while the other was a women’s ready-to-wear boutique on the third floor. 

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Other luxury brands that have exited Saks Fifth Avenue are David Yurman in 2019, Aesop which left both Saks stores in Toronto, and Celine.

Saks Fifth Avenue continues to operate two other spaces in Canada at CF Sherway Gardens and CF Chinook Centre. Plus, its off-price department store, Saks Off Fifth, still has a handful of locations across the country.

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Over the past few years, Canada has seen many well-known retailers experience financial troubles resulting in store closures and bankruptcies. Especially now, with the ongoing global pandemic, the rate of business closures has been accelerated. However, some storefront shutters are not due to financial issues but attributed to changing business models and shifting practices to appeal to customer demands.

Note: This article will be updated as more stores and brands announce filings and closures.

Here is the running list of retail store closures and bankruptcies in 2021 so far.

SEE Eyewear

store closures 2021
Google Maps/Panospin360

The quirky and popular, SEE Eyewear, has shut its only Canadian storefront for good. It was located at 153 Cumberland Street in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood. The boutique first opened in November 2017 with plans to grow across Canada. Unfortunately, due to the current volatile state of the retail industry, all expansion plans are cancelled.

Starbucks

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Starbucks has now released that it will in fact close up around 300 store locations in Canada by the end of March this year. Although this may come as a shock, Starbucks isn’t going anywhere. In fact, this is actually part of its store transformation strategy.The new strategy includes closing stores to restructure and expand services like new drive thru locations, curbside pick-up only, and delivery. 

Versace

store closures 2021
Google Maps/Adam McKenchie

Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’ is losing another store sometime this month for good. Versace, which was located on Thurlow Street, will be closing its storefront after 34 years.

Michaels

Google Maps/YMQ Lam

The well-known craft retailer, Michaels is shuttering locations this year. The storefront at 1022 Alberni Street in Vancouver, which has been there for almost a decade, has fallen victim to the close, as well as its Yonge Street location at 5051 Yonge Street, North York.

Bizou

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The Quebec-based accessories brand, Bizou will close around 30% of its retail locations, according to a French language report. The company has 85 stores, in which 24 will be shut down permanently by the end of this month. Bizou originally filed for bankruptcy in the fall of 2020.

Gap Inc.

Google Maps/Gil P

The signage is now officially off on all three of the Gap Inc.’s storefronts on Toronto’s prestigious Mink Mile. These shops include the Gap storefront at 60 Bloor Street West, the Gap-owned Intermix at 130 Bloor Street West, and the Banana Republic store at 80 Bloor Street West. This is the first time in more than two decades that the Gap has no storefront locations on Bloor Street.

Godiva

store closures 2021
Google Maps/Alvin Cheung

Godiva has made the difficult decision to close its shops across North America. This means that 128 locations, 11 which are in Canada, will shutter doors by the end of March this year. This may come as a surprise to some, as about two years ago, the chocolate company opened its first cafe and then announced plans to open 2,000 more across the globe by 2025. In-person shopping is something that the company takes priority in, so since in-person experiences are not available with the pandemic restrictions, it’s made the conclusion to close.  

Kiehl’s

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Kiehl’s is permanently closing eight of its 24 Canadian stores some time this year. The closures are a result of the company putting a larger focus on its online shop due to new customer behaviours. The Kiehl’s stores that are shuttering are at Toronto Yonge Street, Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket, Masonville Place in London, Quartier Dix 30 in Montreal, Carrefour Laval, West Edmonton Mall, Halifax Shopping Centre, and Coquitlam Centre.

J.Crew

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J. Crew has now shut its remaining stores in Canada. The brand first entered the Canadian market back in 2011 and had a handful of store locations across the country. As of September 2020, the location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre was the last full-priced store in Canada, in which that has now permanently closed.

Freywille

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The Austrian luxury accessories brand,FreyWille, has closed its only remaining standalone store in North America. The location was in Vancouver at 511 Howe Street, in which it first opened in September 2010. Known for its colourful jewellery and silk scarves, you can still shop the brand on its online store!

National Sports

store closures 2021
Google Maps/Drew Gall

It was just announced that National Sports is closing all of its 18 Canadian storefronts for good. Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd., which is the parent company of National Sports, says that the closure isn’t because of a decline in revenue but rather due to the fact that the company wants to narrow down product focus and National Sports overlaps with its other priority brands. These brands include Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s, Atmosphere, Sports Experts, and Pro Hockey Life.

BECCA

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The brand that brought us the infamous pressed highlighter is officially closing its doors. BECCA Cosmetics will be going out of business by September 2021. The company wrote in a caption on Instagram saying, “…At BECCA, an accumulation of challenges, together with the global impact of COVID-19, has sadly been more than our business can withstand…”

OVO Flagship

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Drake’s beloved OVO flagship in downtown Toronto is showing major signs that the location is permanently closed. If you take a walk by the storefront, you’ll see nothing but bare walls, cement flooring, no clothing, and no brass owl insight—seriously, it’s completely empty. The location is no longer listed on the website as well.

Club Monaco

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The iconic flagship of the Canadian-founded clothing brand, Club Monaco, will be closing its doors this week. The beautiful storefront is located in the Lillian Massey building at 157 Bloor Street West. Club Monaco has occupied the two-floor flagship in Toronto for almost 25 years, and now the spot is up for lease next month. 

Funnel Cake Express

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Toronto’s funnel cake shop has permanently closed its storefront location. Although, its food trucks, event services, and funnel cake kits are still open and available!

Bed Bath & Beyond

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Bed Bath & Beyond closed their only downtown Toronto location this past week. It was located at 382 Yonge Street and first opened back in 2012. The next closest spot is at 1602 The Queensway!

Disney Store

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 Disney announced in March that it plans to close at least 60 stores in North America sometime this year. The Mississauga Square One location will be closed before March 23 after operating in that same spot since 1993.

Walmart

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Walmart has released that it’ll be closing six stores across Canada. Three will close in Ontario, two in Alberta, and one in Newfoundland. The three Ontario locations are Walmart County Fair in Hamilton, Walmart Malton Supercentre in Mississauga, and Walmart at Stanley Park Mall in Kitchener.

Zara Home

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Zara Home‘s final Canadian store has officially closed. This last standing retail space was located near Montreal in Quebec. The Zara Home that was found in Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre already closed last year.

Kit And Ace

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Kit and Ace has shut its store at 102 Bloor Street West in Toronto which first opened back in 2015. The brand still operates six storefronts throughout Canada which include two in Vancouver, one in Oakville, one in Calgary, and one in Edmonton.

Hudson’s Bay Outlet

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The Hudson’s Bay Outlet store at the Montreal Premium Outlets shuttered its doors this year after opening in 2014. The other Hudson’s Bay Outlet store used to be in Toronto at the Premium Outlets, which is now a Saks OFF 5TH.

Drake General Store

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The Drake General Store flagship is now permanently closed after about five years. The shop sold fun trinkets, clothing, and more. Although, you can still shop on the online store!

Disney Store

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After announcing that Disney is closing 60 locations across North America back in March, the plans have changed again. Disney is now closing all of its stores in Canada, rather than leaving some open, which was originally planned. Disney’s decision to close its stores in Canada is due to challenges resulting from the pandemic and the change in customer buying behaviour.

Innisfree

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Innisfree has now fallen victim to ongoing COVID-19 challenges. The beauty brand is a hugely popular Korean cosmetics and skincare company that offers innovative clay masks, Green Tea Seed Cream, cleansing oils, and so much more. All of the physical stores are now permanently closed, but you can still shop some products at Sephora!

Banana Republic

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Banana Republic is officially liquidating its flagship store in downtown Montreal located 777 Ste-Catherine Street West. The breath-taking retail space’s closing date is set for July 24, 2021.

Point Zero

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The Point Zero location at 1119 Sainte-Catherine St. W has now closed its doors to the public for good. The clothing brand caters to Canadians and offers collections that can transition from season to season.

Canadian Shoe Outlet

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The spot where you could find all of the best deals on footwear is officially closing. Canadian Shoe Outlet has decided to shutter all of its doors across the country. Canadian Shoe Oullet actually first opened its doors in 2019 and operated out of many Payless locations that closed previously. There aren’t set dates for the closures just yet, but you can expect the CSO at Sheridan Mall to close by the end of September.

Sobeys

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A popular 24-hour Sobeys in Toronto is closing down soon. The spot is located at 840 Dupont Street, near Ossington, and you can shop there until 5 pm on October 7th before it closes down for good.

Rexall

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Rexall has shut its storefront at the Holt Renfrew Centre in downtown Toronto. This is now the fourth location to close in Toronto since June of this year.

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The spot where you could find all of the best deals on footwear is officially closing. Canadian Shoe Outlet has decided to shutter all of its doors across the country. 

Canadian Shoe Outlet has been a top store to shop for boots, sneakers, sandals, and more which were often around 20-60% off of department store prices. 

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Although it’s always unfortunate to see another store exit the market, this means that there will be major liquidation sales.

If you head over to a location, you’ll get to enjoy prices as low as 50% off of the lowest ticketed price. How awesome is that?

The company posted a heartfelt announcement on its Instagram page stating, “This outcome is not easy, nor the one we would have hoped for. But, the situation lends itself to be different. With the Covid-19 pandemic and the multiple lockdowns, reduced capacity, and other restrictions, it made it impossible to continue. We were unable to operate for numerous months, and specifically missed two summer seasons in a row.”

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Canadian Shoe Oullet actually first opened its doors in 2019 and operated out of many Payless locations that closed previously. You may have walked by the CSO shops in Toronto at Dufferin Mall, Cebarbrae Mall, and Dixie Outlet Mall. 

There aren’t set dates for the closures just yet, but you can expect the CSO at Sheridan Mall to close by the end of September.

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