Zellers has officially opened its doors at Cambridge Centre Mall. A long line of eager shoppers waited outside the store for the grand opening Thursday morning. “I came from Chatham. Drove all the way down here just for the grand opening,” Renee Handsor, a shopper said. “Definitely worth the drive. Yeah, lots of savings today.” For some, the day carried a hint of nostalgia. “We used to have [a Zellers] just the end of our street. So, it was local. It was a good store,” Kathy Vaillancourt, a shopper from Montreal who is visiting family in the area said. “Today, it doesn’t seem the same, but I feel great to be back.” It’s the third official Zellers that’s opened in Canada since Quebec-based retail company Les Ailes de la Mode Inc. acquired the trademarks, logo, and mascot rights from the Hudson’s Bay Company in August 2025. Zellers already opened locations in Edmonton and Toronto, but officials said the store in Cambridge had the longest line that they’ve seen at a grand opening. “Zellers was iconic when I was a kid, so it’s just fun to come back and see Zeddy,” King said. Although many thing inside the store feel familiar, there have been some changes. “I had friends that worked in Zellers. They actually worked at the Skillet. So, one of the first things I did when I came in was asked if there was a Skillet. Unfortunately, I know there isn’t one, but still lots of fond memories of Zellers,” Handsor said. “As soon as I came in, I had fond memories. It does look a lot the same with the red colouring with the bear.” The 25,000 sq. ft. location isn’t as big as some of the discount department stores of the 1990’s, but focuses more on clothing, while featuring some toys, baby items and some housewares. “I think it’s been well organized. And the displays are good there - well marked, and the staff is very helpful,” Donald Young, a shopper said. “I remember it from years ago. It’s different now.” The company hopes to continue expanding with additional locations, and plans to open two more stores in Ontario next year in Brampton and Scarborough. Shoppers in Cambridge said they look forward to coming back. “I’m excited to see that it’s back. And I hope it thrives in Canada, because we missed you Zellers! Welcome back,” Handsor said.
