'Nice little nod to nostalgia': Edmontonians line up to shop Zellers grand reopening
Dozens of people lined up outside the Hudson's Bay store at Kingsway Mall in Edmonton on Thursday to be amongst the first to shop at the new Zellers location.
The discount department brand reopened a small location within the store in Edmonton, as well as at Hudson's Bay stores in Calgary and Ontario.
- Here are the locations of the first 12 new Zellers stores
- Zellers opens a dozen stores in Canada amid wave of nostalgia and price sensitivity
- Zellers opening inside Hudson’s Bay stores in Ontario, Alberta this week
The 9,000 square foot Kingsway location will carry a selection of lifestyle items, homewares, and clothing.
A spokesperson for Kingsway Mall said the Zellers footprint inside the Hudson's Bay store has potential to grow if it resonates with customers.
"With the 9,000 square feet they’ve started out with here, it's a great way to gauge customer response, a great way to kind of flex on what they're putting out on the shelves and how much, and who knows if response is good then that 9,000 square feet could grow and grow,” said Bo Tarasenko of Kingsway Mall.
"I think what people will find with the Zellers section at the Bay is a different variety of products at much more accessible prices, with a nice little nod to nostalgia as well."
The lineup outside the Zellers location at Kingsway Mall in Edmonton.
Robert June said he's happy to see the legacy brand return.
"I’m really surprised. It makes me feel good. I hope this keeps up because we can’t lose Zellers again."
"I hope other stores will come back like Sears. I know it’s a pipe dream, but no one thought Zellers would come back."
He said he's looking forward to a new shopping experience.
"I want to check out their shirts, and their shoes. I can’t find a decent pair of shoes, so I’m hoping Zellers goes with better quality shoes."
Shoppers at Zellers in Kingsway Mall in Edmonton on March 23, 2023.
Bonnie Anderson said she's impressed by what she's seen of the new Zellers so far.
"I think it’s good. It's competition for the other stores, and it looks quite nice in here, like very upscale."
"It looks like the stuff is really nice quality."
The grand opening event included a DJ, prizes, and the Zellers Food Truck, which offered a selection of old favourites outside Kingsway's Entrance 8.
The food truck was so popular, a Zellers official said it would return to the Kingsway Mall parking lot on Friday.
The Zellers Food Truck at Kingsway Mall in Edmonton on March 23, 2023. (Evan Klippenstein/CTV News Edmonton)
'A WAY TO ATTRACT INTEREST'
One retail expert says in a competitive landscape, bringing back an iconic brand is a great way to attract foot traffic to Hudson's Bay.
"It's always nice to see a well recognized brand like Zellers reenter the marketplace. There’s a lot of nostalgia built around the Zellers brand, and we’re not surprised that it’s getting a great response," John Graham of the Retail Council of Canada told CTV News Edmonton.
"There’s no certainty that any particular retailer will be a success, but bringing an iconic brand back is certainly a way to attract interest."
Graham said while some American brands like Nordstrom are departing from the Canadian retail landscape, customers appreciate a taste of home.
"There’s very few Canadiana brands that are still available to be brought back and remain relevant. There’s a certain demographic that remembers Zellers very fondly."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.