Zellers Nostalgia Shoppers Recall Iconic Canadian Retailer

Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns the Zellers brand, announced plans Wednesday to bring the department store back to some current HBC stores, as well as online, next year. The announcement was met with excitement among past customers who wish to relive the nostalgia of walking the aisles of Zellers again. Canadians wrote to CTVNews.ca about their fondest memories of Zellers stores and what they look forward to most when they return. For many, Zellers played a large role in their childhood upbringing. Some remembered the key part of the Zellers shopping experience: the food at the store’s restaurant. “The Skillet,” later renamed “Zellers Family Restaurant,” was a 1950s-themed diner that offered shoppers a place to eat at certain locations. Dong Ngo of Halifax, NS recalled dining at a 50s themed dinner as a child, followed by a tour of the clothing aisles. “I have vivid memories of being a small child and sitting in the large part of the shopping cart as my mother took me to the store. From the food to the chauffeur around the store, Zellers was the place of childhood,” Ngo wrote to CTVNews.ca in an email Wednesday. One reader described the restaurant as a “special attraction”, recounting its neon lights with 50’s revelers playing in the background. “With all the chrome and neon lights. the trademark 50’s theme would always make my eyes awe and the atmosphere was always perfected with the appropriate music from said era, often Elvis Presley, Big Bopper, Buddy Holly”, Tyson Bastien from Gatineau, Que. He wrote. The department store also carried a variety of Canadian clothing brands such as Alfred Sung, some shoppers said. “I miss the Zellers stores, it was a Canadian company geared towards Canadians. It would be great to see them come back,” wrote Alexandra Bickerton of Hamilton, Ont. Zellers mascot “Zeddy the teddy bear” was the friendly face most kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s remember in the toy department. Some store locations also had a small mechanical wheel that kids could ride. “When I was younger, I would go to Zellers with my mom and get excited to go on the Zeddys Ferris wheel when we got there,” said Whitney Echum of Thunder Bay, Ont. Former employees also shared their enthusiasm for the revival of department stores. “It was a great place to work with loyal customers. Great stock at great prices. I loved my time working at Zellers,” wrote Colleen Williams of Mississauga, Ont., a former cashier. A former restaurant manager called working in the store’s restaurant one of the “highlights” of their lives. In 2013, most Zellers stores across Canada closed, and only a few locations remained open as liquidation stores until 2020. However, last year Zellers gained a resurgence after Hudson’s Bay Co. created pop-up stores in its department stores in Ontario and Quebec.

title: “Zellers Nostalgia Shoppers Recall Iconic Canadian Retailer Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Michael Freeman”

Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns the Zellers brand, announced plans Wednesday to bring the department store back to some current HBC stores, as well as online, next year. The announcement was met with excitement among past customers who wish to relive the nostalgia of walking the aisles of Zellers again. Canadians wrote to CTVNews.ca about their fondest memories of Zellers stores and what they look forward to most when they return. For many, Zellers played a large role in their childhood upbringing. Some remembered the key part of the Zellers shopping experience: the food at the store’s restaurant. “The Skillet,” later renamed “Zellers Family Restaurant,” was a 1950s-themed diner that offered shoppers a place to eat at certain locations. Dong Ngo of Halifax, NS recalled dining at a 50s themed dinner as a child, followed by a tour of the clothing aisles. “I have vivid memories of being a small child and sitting in the large part of the shopping cart as my mother took me to the store. From the food to the chauffeur around the store, Zellers was the place of childhood,” Ngo wrote to CTVNews.ca in an email Wednesday. One reader described the restaurant as a “special attraction”, recounting its neon lights with 50’s revelers playing in the background. “With all the chrome and neon lights. the trademark 50’s theme would always make my eyes awe and the atmosphere was always perfected with the appropriate music from said era, often Elvis Presley, Big Bopper, Buddy Holly”, Tyson Bastien from Gatineau, Que. He wrote. The department store also carried a variety of Canadian clothing brands such as Alfred Sung, some shoppers said. “I miss the Zellers stores, it was a Canadian company geared towards Canadians. It would be great to see them come back,” wrote Alexandra Bickerton of Hamilton, Ont. Zellers mascot “Zeddy the teddy bear” was the friendly face most kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s remember in the toy department. Some store locations also had a small mechanical wheel that kids could ride. “When I was younger, I would go to Zellers with my mom and get excited to go on the Zeddys Ferris wheel when we got there,” said Whitney Echum of Thunder Bay, Ont. Former employees also shared their enthusiasm for the revival of department stores. “It was a great place to work with loyal customers. Great stock at great prices. I loved my time working at Zellers,” wrote Colleen Williams of Mississauga, Ont., a former cashier. A former restaurant manager called working in the store’s restaurant one of the “highlights” of their lives. In 2013, most Zellers stores across Canada closed, and only a few locations remained open as liquidation stores until 2020. However, last year Zellers gained a resurgence after Hudson’s Bay Co. created pop-up stores in its department stores in Ontario and Quebec.

title: “Zellers Nostalgia Shoppers Recall Iconic Canadian Retailer Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-09” author: “Phillip Huie”

Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns the Zellers brand, announced plans Wednesday to bring the department store back to some current HBC stores, as well as online, next year. The announcement was met with excitement among past customers who wish to relive the nostalgia of walking the aisles of Zellers again. Canadians wrote to CTVNews.ca about their fondest memories of Zellers stores and what they look forward to most when they return. For many, Zellers played a large role in their childhood upbringing. Some remembered the key part of the Zellers shopping experience: the food at the store’s restaurant. “The Skillet,” later renamed “Zellers Family Restaurant,” was a 1950s-themed diner that offered shoppers a place to eat at certain locations. Dong Ngo of Halifax, NS recalled dining at a 50s themed dinner as a child, followed by a tour of the clothing aisles. “I have vivid memories of being a small child and sitting in the large part of the shopping cart as my mother took me to the store. From the food to the chauffeur around the store, Zellers was the place of childhood,” Ngo wrote to CTVNews.ca in an email Wednesday. One reader described the restaurant as a “special attraction”, recounting its neon lights with 50’s revelers playing in the background. “With all the chrome and neon lights. the trademark 50’s theme would always make my eyes awe and the atmosphere was always perfected with the appropriate music from said era, often Elvis Presley, Big Bopper, Buddy Holly”, Tyson Bastien from Gatineau, Que. He wrote. The department store also carried a variety of Canadian clothing brands such as Alfred Sung, some shoppers said. “I miss the Zellers stores, it was a Canadian company geared towards Canadians. It would be great to see them come back,” wrote Alexandra Bickerton of Hamilton, Ont. Zellers mascot “Zeddy the teddy bear” was the friendly face most kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s remember in the toy department. Some store locations also had a small mechanical wheel that kids could ride. “When I was younger, I would go to Zellers with my mom and get excited to go on the Zeddys Ferris wheel when we got there,” said Whitney Echum of Thunder Bay, Ont. Former employees also shared their enthusiasm for the revival of department stores. “It was a great place to work with loyal customers. Great stock at great prices. I loved my time working at Zellers,” wrote Colleen Williams of Mississauga, Ont., a former cashier. A former restaurant manager called working in the store’s restaurant one of the “highlights” of their lives. In 2013, most Zellers stores across Canada closed, and only a few locations remained open as liquidation stores until 2020. However, last year Zellers gained a resurgence after Hudson’s Bay Co. created pop-up stores in its department stores in Ontario and Quebec.

title: “Zellers Nostalgia Shoppers Recall Iconic Canadian Retailer Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-01” author: “David Cuevas”

Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns the Zellers brand, announced plans Wednesday to bring the department store back to some current HBC stores, as well as online, next year. The announcement was met with excitement among past customers who wish to relive the nostalgia of walking the aisles of Zellers again. Canadians wrote to CTVNews.ca about their fondest memories of Zellers stores and what they look forward to most when they return. For many, Zellers played a large role in their childhood upbringing. Some remembered the key part of the Zellers shopping experience: the food at the store’s restaurant. “The Skillet,” later renamed “Zellers Family Restaurant,” was a 1950s-themed diner that offered shoppers a place to eat at certain locations. Dong Ngo of Halifax, NS recalled dining at a 50s themed dinner as a child, followed by a tour of the clothing aisles. “I have vivid memories of being a small child and sitting in the large part of the shopping cart as my mother took me to the store. From the food to the chauffeur around the store, Zellers was the place of childhood,” Ngo wrote to CTVNews.ca in an email Wednesday. One reader described the restaurant as a “special attraction”, recounting its neon lights with 50’s revelers playing in the background. “With all the chrome and neon lights. the trademark 50’s theme would always make my eyes awe and the atmosphere was always perfected with the appropriate music from said era, often Elvis Presley, Big Bopper, Buddy Holly”, Tyson Bastien from Gatineau, Que. He wrote. The department store also carried a variety of Canadian clothing brands such as Alfred Sung, some shoppers said. “I miss the Zellers stores, it was a Canadian company geared towards Canadians. It would be great to see them come back,” wrote Alexandra Bickerton of Hamilton, Ont. Zellers mascot “Zeddy the teddy bear” was the friendly face most kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s remember in the toy department. Some store locations also had a small mechanical wheel that kids could ride. “When I was younger, I would go to Zellers with my mom and get excited to go on the Zeddys Ferris wheel when we got there,” said Whitney Echum of Thunder Bay, Ont. Former employees also shared their enthusiasm for the revival of department stores. “It was a great place to work with loyal customers. Great stock at great prices. I loved my time working at Zellers,” wrote Colleen Williams of Mississauga, Ont., a former cashier. A former restaurant manager called working in the store’s restaurant one of the “highlights” of their lives. In 2013, most Zellers stores across Canada closed, and only a few locations remained open as liquidation stores until 2020. However, last year Zellers gained a resurgence after Hudson’s Bay Co. created pop-up stores in its department stores in Ontario and Quebec.

title: “Zellers Nostalgia Shoppers Recall Iconic Canadian Retailer Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Robert Brady”

Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns the Zellers brand, announced plans Wednesday to bring the department store back to some current HBC stores, as well as online, next year. The announcement was met with excitement among past customers who wish to relive the nostalgia of walking the aisles of Zellers again. Canadians wrote to CTVNews.ca about their fondest memories of Zellers stores and what they look forward to most when they return. For many, Zellers played a large role in their childhood upbringing. Some remembered the key part of the Zellers shopping experience: the food at the store’s restaurant. “The Skillet,” later renamed “Zellers Family Restaurant,” was a 1950s-themed diner that offered shoppers a place to eat at certain locations. Dong Ngo of Halifax, NS recalled dining at a 50s themed dinner as a child, followed by a tour of the clothing aisles. “I have vivid memories of being a small child and sitting in the large part of the shopping cart as my mother took me to the store. From the food to the chauffeur around the store, Zellers was the place of childhood,” Ngo wrote to CTVNews.ca in an email Wednesday. One reader described the restaurant as a “special attraction”, recounting its neon lights with 50’s revelers playing in the background. “With all the chrome and neon lights. the trademark 50’s theme would always make my eyes awe and the atmosphere was always perfected with the appropriate music from said era, often Elvis Presley, Big Bopper, Buddy Holly”, Tyson Bastien from Gatineau, Que. He wrote. The department store also carried a variety of Canadian clothing brands such as Alfred Sung, some shoppers said. “I miss the Zellers stores, it was a Canadian company geared towards Canadians. It would be great to see them come back,” wrote Alexandra Bickerton of Hamilton, Ont. Zellers mascot “Zeddy the teddy bear” was the friendly face most kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s remember in the toy department. Some store locations also had a small mechanical wheel that kids could ride. “When I was younger, I would go to Zellers with my mom and get excited to go on the Zeddys Ferris wheel when we got there,” said Whitney Echum of Thunder Bay, Ont. Former employees also shared their enthusiasm for the revival of department stores. “It was a great place to work with loyal customers. Great stock at great prices. I loved my time working at Zellers,” wrote Colleen Williams of Mississauga, Ont., a former cashier. A former restaurant manager called working in the store’s restaurant one of the “highlights” of their lives. In 2013, most Zellers stores across Canada closed, and only a few locations remained open as liquidation stores until 2020. However, last year Zellers gained a resurgence after Hudson’s Bay Co. created pop-up stores in its department stores in Ontario and Quebec.