Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 3, 2020, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A1 Explore the possibilities scu.mb.ca/mymortgage CU STO M M O RTG AG E S D E S I G N E D FO R YO U SCU.MB.CA/SAVINGS S TA R T I N G AT 1.25%* INTEREST ON SAVINGS *Rates subject to change INSIDE FINAL DAYS FOR DOWNTOWN BAY The physically imposing limestone giant, once the city’s flagship destination for department store shopping, is closing its doors for good in February JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH 8 — LOW -1SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020 WEATHER: FOUNDED IN 1872 ENFORCEMENT EXHAUSTION Shortage of Manitoba public health inspectors leaves gaps during pandemic A6 CHEVY’S CHOICE Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Jason Bell delve into all the possibilities for the Winnipeg Jets in next week’s NHL draft / E1 Trump hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 Feverish U.S. President Donald Trump whisked off to military hospital Friday night / A4-5, C4 OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD Director transformed New York actor Christopher Walken into a Saskatchewan farmer for Manitoba-shot film / G1 IN February, just five years shy of its 100th anniversary, the PortageAvenue Bay store, the mammoth icon of a bygone era of downtown department store shopping, will shut down for good. HBC’s decision to close the 650,000-square-foot store at Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard — twice the size of the Winnipeg Ikea store — won’t come as a surprise to most people in the city. Over the years, the company has closed some of the store’s six floors and its basement, consolidating stock on just two levels. Last year a company-wide valuation of HBC’s real estate holdings valued the downtown Winnipeg building at precisely $0. “The decision to close this store was a difficult one,” said Iain Nairn, president and CEO, Hudson’s Bay Co. “The downtown Winnipeg Hud- son’s Bay store is one of HBC’s ‘origi- nal six’ and has been a landmark in a city that has incredibly strong ties to HBC’s history. We also know that Winnipeggers have a strong and loyal affinity for the Hudson’s Bay brand today, and we hope to continue that relationship for many years to come at our Polo Park and St. Vital locations, and through thebay.com.” Company officials said it was a sad day, but as a result of chang- ing consumer habits — shoppers long ago ditched the downtown for suburban malls and, more recently, online commerce — there was clearly no longer any commer- cial rationale for keeping the store open. At one time, the closure of such a large store would cause serious ripple effects to commercial enter- prises located within a few square kilometres. The reality is that the store has had little traffic for many years, its heft as a retail anchor long gone. “Obviously, it is disappoint- ing news,” said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman. “Many of us have fond memories of that store. As a child, (my family) used to drive downtown in our old Pontiac to look at the Christmas displays in the windows. “It is definitely part of our cultural and historical fabric.” Friday was going to be a tough day for the store’s 60 employees, some of whom have been there for many years. “We are committed to treating every associate with respect and fairness through this process,” a company statement said. “All eligible associates will receive appropriate employment separa- tion packages and transfer op- portunities will be explored where feasible.” The discussion will move to what happens to the building. There have been several past attempts to put together viable renovation plans to repurpose the building, but all have fallen short. ● BAY, CONTINUED ON A2 ● DAN LETT: GLIMMER OF HOPE / A3 ● MELISSA MARTIN: QUIET END / A2 ● BAY Q & A / A3 ‘HAVE TO RECLAIM JUSTICE’ The family of a woman who filmed hospital staff hurling insults at her as she lay dying announced a series of legal actions Friday / A10 PLUS... Not the first time racism rears its head in health-care system: Niigaan Sinclair A11 MARTIN CASH A_01_Oct-03-20_FP_01.indd A1 2020-10-02 11:13 PM ;