Backhoes and bulldozers began tearing down the remaining four floors of a Winnipeg landmark on the weekend to make way for a new sports and entertainment complex.

The city closed several streets around the old Eaton's department store to allow the demolition crew to accelerate its work.

The True North development group expects to level the building by mid-January and have the site cleared by early February.

A citizens' coalition group had worked for months trying to save the building, which is nearly 100 years old.

Court challenges delayed the demolition. But in the end, the Save the Eaton's Building Coalition lost. The group claimed the process by which the arena project was given the green light was biased and flawed.

Some who watched from across the street said they were both sad and angry to see the wood and walls come tumbling down.

"I'm so ashamed... so ashamed what they did to my city," said one man.

But another man who came out to the site Saturday said he welcomes the change. "I'd rather have something go up that people will come and use."

The downtown store opened in 1905. It was the biggest store in the city, the jewel of Portage Avenue.

For many Eaton's shoppers, the fifth floor Grill Room and Santa's Village became part of their childhood memories.

Former employee Ron Robertson, who came to the demolition site Saturday, says he also has very vivid memories of the store.

"My thoughts and memories are what keep it alive for me, and I think that's true of most of the people who worked at Eaton's," he says.