HBC to close last two Zellers stores

TORONTO — The last two Zellers stores, located in Toronto and Ottawa, will close in January, Hudson’s Bay Co. says. “Through the normal course of business we continually evaluate store performance and other factors,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to the Canadian Press, “and may determine it necessary to close a store.” Eligible workers will receive severance packages and where possible, HBC will explore opportunities for them within the company, the statement added. Zellers got its start in 1928 with four Ontario stores and came under HBC’s sole ownership in 1978.