TORONTO — The iconic Canadian retailer Zellers is planning a resurgence.
About a decade after most of the department store's locations were closed, including three in Thunder Bay, brand owner Hudson's Bay Co. said Tuesday it will roll out a new e-commerce website early next year.
It also plans to expand its physical footprint in Hudson's Bay store locations in major population centres where it has already established two pop-up Zellers shops.
In its announcement, the company said Zellers will deliver an experience "that taps into the nostalgia of the brand Canadians know and love, while introducing a refreshed identity and a unique and exciting product assortment."
Chief Business Officer for Zellers, Adam Powell, said the store name is a brand that's deeply rooted across the country.
"Spanning generations, people hold distinct connections to Zellers through shared experiences with family and friends, and we look forward to building on that," he added.
More details are expected in the near future.
Zellers was established in 1931 and was purchased by HBC in 1978.
It operated as the company's discount division and grew to 350 locations before succumbing to competition from chains like Walmart.
Two of the locations in Thunder Bay were closed in 2012 and replaced by Walmart outlets.
The third was shut down in early 2013 and replaced by Target, which operated for two years before the U.S. company withdrew from the Canadian market.
