If you’re looking for major discounts on high-quality clothing, accessories, and home essentials, now might be a good time to shop.
Following its recent filing for creditor protection, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is holding massive clearance sales to liquidate merchandise amid financial distress. The Bay’s downtown Montreal store on Sainte-Catherine Street is offering significant discounts as it braces for potential closures.
Photos taken by Jean-Michel Clermont-Goulet of Narcity Quebec reveal mostly empty racks and crowded checkout lines as shoppers hunt for bargains across nearly all departments, including men’s and women’s fashion, kitchenware, and children’s items. The store’s shelves are lined with signs offering discounts ranging from 15%, 25%, 40%, 50%, and even up to 70% off.
Long lineups and empty shelves seem to be a common site at the historic Montreal store. Jean-Michel Clermont-Goulet | Narcity Québec
Walking through the floors of the department store, which was established back in 1891, it’s clear that Montrealers were eager to take advantage of The Bay’s financial turmoil to find that rare gem. Several queues lined the checkouts on every floor.
The Bay’s men’s suit section in the basement has been hit particularly hard, with many displays completely cleared out. Some signs even read, “Please excuse the mess, we are renovating,” though it’s clear the chaos is mostly due to the rush of shoppers trying to take advantage of the blowout sales.
Even high-end brands like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein aren’t immune to the markdowns, with some items being discounted up to 25% when you spend at least $125.
Founded in 1670, Hudson’s Bay is the oldest company in Canada but has been struggling under a mountain of debt — over $1.1 billion. The company is awaiting a decision from the Ontario court about whether it can liquidate its remaining 80 stores across Canada, including 13 in Quebec.
For now, Montrealers are swarming the Sainte-Catherine Street location in hopes of scoring deals before the final decision is made.
This story was adapted from the article “Faillite de La Baie : Grosses ventes et étagères dégarnies à Montréal (PHOTOS)” which was originally published on Narcity Quebec.
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