Zellers returning to London, the place it started

A Canadian retailer comeback Zellers announces its return with 25 locations, including London where the company was founded in 1931. CTV’s Sean Irvine reports.

Whether “The lowest price will be the law” again has yet to be determined, but Zellers is coming back.

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) has announced 25 Zellers stores will open inside existing Hudson’s Bay locations across Canada.

One of the new 8,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. stores will be located at White Oak’s Mall in London, Ont.

“I think it’s great! I like Zellers,” stated Barbara Hunter, outside the White Oak’s Hudson’s Bay Store Wednesday morning.

“It’s nice to have it back again. A good old store!” exclaimed Al, a London senior, upon hearing the news.

But while there is excitement about the return to the familiar red and white Zellers logo, some wonder if new smaller locations and an online Zellers store will be enough to keep shoppers coming.

Eleanor Horlings is confident it will.

“Well, there is always a big deal of curiosity for any new store, so I think, initially, there will be lots of interest in it. And, if it catches attention, shoppers will keep coming,” she said.

After all, this is far from the first time Zellers has tried to catch on in London.

In 1928, Walter P. Zeller started the chain on Dundas Street in downtown London. It was an instant success sparking him to sell it off to another retailer, who renamed the stores and expanded to 14 other markets.

But in 1931, as the Great Depression set in, the new chain failed. Walter Zeller bought it back.

Over the years, Zeller’s stores dropped the apostrophe in its name to become simply “Zellers” –and the rest is history.

But, as a new chapter dawns for Zellers, Londoner Judy Shaw wonders if it will last and told CTV News London, “Well, we will see how long it stays around this time.”

“And, of course, it’s starting up in a mall, not downtown. That’s not surprising,” added Pat Tripp as she looked towards the original Zeller’s location on Dundas, near Richmond Street. Today the location is the London Music Hall.

Since 1931, Zellers has based its success on lower-priced goods.

And, if you ask long-time London shoppers, the resurrected store and website will need to do the same to survive.

“Oh, for sure, if the prices are a bit better, they will probably want to shop there,” said one senior.

“They might connect with it. When I was young, I connected with it,” shared another.

There is no timeline set for the brick and mortar stores to open, but Zellers.ca is already active with previews of what’s to come for Canadian shoppers.

 

Here's a full list of where the new Zellers' stores will open across the country 

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

Nova Scotia

— With files from CTV News London's Kristylee Varley