Zeller's
How Zellers defined Georgetown's shopping scene for decadesDepartment store once served as an anchor at the Georgetown Market Place
Scott BrooksApr 26, 2026 2:56 PM
Zellers was once a prominent business on the Canadian retail scene and quickly became one of the nation’s most iconic and beloved department store chains, with that sentiment fondly felt by the customers and employees at the former Georgetown location.It was in September 1970 when Zellers announced its plans, as reported in The Herald, to open a location in Georgetown following an agreement made with Focal Properties, the then-owner of the Georgetown Market Place.
Prior to Zellers’ proclamation of coming to town, the company had previously been interested in leasing the site of the former Roxy Theatre in downtown Georgetown, but was deemed as unsuitable to meet the growing retail needs of the community.
Instead, the company made plans to move ahead with the construction of a 67,000 square-foot retail location on the east end of the Market Place on Guelph Street and was contingent on the fact that Georgetown Council made Zellers exempt from the town’s closing bylaw, allowing the store to operate six days and five nights a week. The bylaw, at that time, allowed stores to only be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday, and until 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with Monday closing a requirement.
Following negotiations with the town council, Zellers began work on constructing the new retail location, handled by S.B. McLaughlin Associates Limited of Mississauga.
After less than a year of construction, Georgetown Zellers – then branded as a “Zellers County Fair” – officially opened to the public on October 13, 1971 and featured an in-store pharmacy, restaurant and home improvement centre.
The store quickly became the “go-to” for shopping needs and was especially a place to purchase gifts for holidays and special occasions, most notably for Mother’s Day.
Perspective buyers could browse through the flyer’s pages to see what items would make for the perfect gift for mom and at relatively affordable prices through special discounts in the range of 15 to 50 per cent off.
In retrospect, it’s interesting to leaf through the flyer to see the items available such as women’s blouses and skirts, regardless of the styles of the time, on sale for $12.88. Crystal dishes and special China were also prominently featured in the flyer as Mother’s Day gift ideas.
Even though Zellers experienced great retail success throughout the 1970s, ‘80s and into the ‘90s, it was in the late ‘90s and early 2000s when the retail scene began to change with the advent of online shopping and competition from other stores entering the market.
Unfortunately, by January 2011, the Hudson’s Bay Company – the parent of Zellers since 1978 – announced it would be shuttering all Zellers locations due to a lack of profitability as brought on by the changing retail environment.
After 40 years of operations in Georgetown, Zellers closed for good on June 2, 2012, marking the end of an era for both the Canadian and local retail scene. The following year, Walmart relocated and opened at the former Zellers location.
While Zellers has since disappeared, it still remains in the memory of local shoppers as a major Canadian department store that offered quality items at affordable prices, all under their iconic slogan, “Where the lowest price is the law.”
Article written by Scott Brooks, with information from Dills Collection/EHS/HHPL/The Georgetown Vault/Hudson’s Bay Company Archives.
Scott BrooksApr 26, 2026 2:56 PM
Zellers was once a prominent business on the Canadian retail scene and quickly became one of the nation’s most iconic and beloved department store chains, with that sentiment fondly felt by the customers and employees at the former Georgetown location.It was in September 1970 when Zellers announced its plans, as reported in The Herald, to open a location in Georgetown following an agreement made with Focal Properties, the then-owner of the Georgetown Market Place.
Prior to Zellers’ proclamation of coming to town, the company had previously been interested in leasing the site of the former Roxy Theatre in downtown Georgetown, but was deemed as unsuitable to meet the growing retail needs of the community.
Instead, the company made plans to move ahead with the construction of a 67,000 square-foot retail location on the east end of the Market Place on Guelph Street and was contingent on the fact that Georgetown Council made Zellers exempt from the town’s closing bylaw, allowing the store to operate six days and five nights a week. The bylaw, at that time, allowed stores to only be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday, and until 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with Monday closing a requirement.
Following negotiations with the town council, Zellers began work on constructing the new retail location, handled by S.B. McLaughlin Associates Limited of Mississauga.
After less than a year of construction, Georgetown Zellers – then branded as a “Zellers County Fair” – officially opened to the public on October 13, 1971 and featured an in-store pharmacy, restaurant and home improvement centre.
The store quickly became the “go-to” for shopping needs and was especially a place to purchase gifts for holidays and special occasions, most notably for Mother’s Day.
Perspective buyers could browse through the flyer’s pages to see what items would make for the perfect gift for mom and at relatively affordable prices through special discounts in the range of 15 to 50 per cent off.
In retrospect, it’s interesting to leaf through the flyer to see the items available such as women’s blouses and skirts, regardless of the styles of the time, on sale for $12.88. Crystal dishes and special China were also prominently featured in the flyer as Mother’s Day gift ideas.
Even though Zellers experienced great retail success throughout the 1970s, ‘80s and into the ‘90s, it was in the late ‘90s and early 2000s when the retail scene began to change with the advent of online shopping and competition from other stores entering the market.
Unfortunately, by January 2011, the Hudson’s Bay Company – the parent of Zellers since 1978 – announced it would be shuttering all Zellers locations due to a lack of profitability as brought on by the changing retail environment.
After 40 years of operations in Georgetown, Zellers closed for good on June 2, 2012, marking the end of an era for both the Canadian and local retail scene. The following year, Walmart relocated and opened at the former Zellers location.
While Zellers has since disappeared, it still remains in the memory of local shoppers as a major Canadian department store that offered quality items at affordable prices, all under their iconic slogan, “Where the lowest price is the law.”
Article written by Scott Brooks, with information from Dills Collection/EHS/HHPL/The Georgetown Vault/Hudson’s Bay Company Archives.