A person checks out the store closing advertising at the Hudson’s Bay in Toronto, on Friday, May 30, 2025. Canada’s oldest company, Hudson’s Bay will be permanently closing all its stores in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Hudson’s Bay, Canada’s oldest retailer, has laid off more than 8,300 employees as of today June 1st, as it shuts down all 96 of its remaining stores for good.
The company filed a motion on May 26th, 2025 saying that about 89% of its workforce will be let go by June 1, which marks the end of its liquidation process. This comes after Hudson’s Bay filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) back in March. Despite attempts to restructure, it wasn’t able to secure the funding needed to keep the business afloat.
A small group of employees will stay on temporarily to help with furniture sales and to wrap up closing procedures at the final locations.
The shutdown also includes the closure of the company’s distribution centre on June 15, which will lead to another 900 job losses. About 120 workers will remain for a short time to help the company wind things down.
Whether employees will be able to access benefits through the federal Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP) is still up in the air and will depend on a court decision. Pay may also vary.
The closures include 80 Hudson’s Bay stores, 13 Saks Off 5th locations, and three Saks Fifth Avenue outlets across the country. Only six stores—three in Ontario and three in Quebec—are still open for final clearance sales.
Meanwhile, Canadian Tire announced earlier this month that it plans to buy Hudson’s Bay’s intellectual property for $30 million.
After more than 350 years of shaping Canadian retail, Hudson’s Bay is officially closing its doors, marking the end of an era for one of the country’s most iconic brands.
