Peggy Lam 

Hudson's Bay Company is closing its downtown Winnipeg location two months earlier than announced&nbsp;due to pandemic restrictions.&nbsp;

In October, the company said it was set to close in February&nbsp;due to "shifting consumer behaviour." But on Monday, a spokesperson with the retailer confirmed the doors are officially closed&nbsp;on Nov. 30.

"In light of recently announced restrictions on non-essential retail by the Government of Manitoba, we have made the decision to close this location," a statement from&nbsp;spokesperson Tiffany Bourré said.&nbsp;

The company said it&nbsp;will continue to serve Winnipeggers at its Polo Park and&nbsp;St. Vital locations, as well as online.&nbsp;

Once a retail hub in the city, in recent years, only two of the building's six floors have been open to shoppers.

The Hudson's Bay 

"The historic building has been a landmark in Winnipeg for generations&nbsp;and we remain committed to working with partners to find opportunities for this location that will have a positive impact on the community," Bourré said.&nbsp;

The Hudson's Bay Company&nbsp;building at the corner of Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard opened on Nov. 18, 1926. In recent years, only two of the six floors of the building were open to customers.

Downtown Winnipeg Bay store to close in February

Hudson's Bay Company says its iconic location on Winnipeg's Portage Avenue will shut its doors for good next February.

The Bay's landmark store at Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard is shown in an October 2020 photo.

The Hudson Bay downtown 

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The closure of the Bay in downtown Winnipeg came as a shock to some, but it wasn't a surprise to others who've recently gone for a stroll through the quiet retail building. The questions now are what to do with all that space, and who gets a say? 

The Bay is closing its landmark building in downtown Winnipeg in February. It opened in November of 1926.

The Bay, downtown Winnipeg

The Bay will close its downtown Winnipeg building, which opened in November of 1926, in the coming months.

The Hudson's Bay Co. building on Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard opened on Nov. 18, 1926. The company said it's officially closing this location on Monday. 

Hudson's Bay Company officially closes downtown Winnipeg location

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