Peavey Mart closures a hit to rural customers and local economies, says Weyburn councillor
Retailer says it's closing all 90 of its stores, including 12 in Saskatchewan
It's the end of an era, as the Canadian retailer Peavey Mart is preparing to shutter stores across Canada.
On Monday, the national farm goods retailer announced it would begin closing all 90 of its locations across the country.
Peavey Mart, a retailer with western Canadian roots stretching back to the 1960s, has 12 Saskatchewan stores listed on its website, with locations in Saskatoon, Humboldt, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Kindersley, Swift Current, Regina, Assiniboia, Yorkton, Weyburn and Estevan.
The Red Deer, Alta.-based retailer has also sought an initial order for creditor protection from the Alberta Court of King's Bench, a move the company said came after a thorough evaluation of all of its options.
Weyburn's Peavey Mart, located in the southeastern Saskatchewan city's downtown, was seen as a draw for bringing business to the core area, said Laura Morrissette.
Before she became a city councillor for the city of about 11,000 people, she worked at the Peavey Mart, which she said brings back good memories.
"I really loved Peavey Mart because I was able to give people that real hands-on customer service.… I always took pride in doing that," said Morrissette.
"You meet so many unique people, and we had a mantra at Peavey Mart: 'If you can't find it at Peavey Mart, you probably didn't need it anyway.'"
The store was known for offering a vital service to rural communities, stocking everything from horse feed to farm equipment and even live chickens.
While Morrissette has fond memories — like people coming in to buy Peavey Mart-branded toys during the Christmas season or ordering bees that got shipped in from Australia — the effect of losing jobs due to the store closing is paramount to her, especially because she knows the employees who work there.
"Any town that has a Peavey Mart in it is going to be impacted, because it's the loss of jobs, it's the loss of taxes for the city — which is, to me, a very underlying thing, because we definitely don't want to see job loss in our community."
Weyburn Mayor Jeff Richards said he hopes the city is able to find another retailer to fill that soon-to-be-vacant spot.
"[It's] the only place I know where you can get a roll of barbed wire, a chocolate bar and a pair of work boots," he said.
Patrons outside other store locations shared similar sentiments, like Prentice Willy, who said he shopped for work and gardening items at the Saskatoon Peavey Mart for years.
"I'm not happy with it. I wish it would stay open," he said. "I enjoyed the store. It has always been good to me."
CBC reached out to Peavey Mart to find out when the last day of business would be for its Saskatchewan locations, but the company did not respond before publication.
Stores in Manitoba have told customers they'll be closed within five months.
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With files from Andrew Kurjata, Akshay Kulkarni and Luigi Wahmereungo Palmieri