Hudson’s Bay is closing most of its stores in Canada, leaving commercial landlords to fill massive vacancies as liquidation sales empty retail spaces, reflecting changing consumer shopping habits away from department stores towards e-commerce and specialty stores. The challenge of replacing The Bay is exemplified by the need to divide up the space into smaller units to attract tenants, with examples like the former Eaton’s department store now housing pickleball courts and a Target space being repurposed for service providers or retailers in residential communities. Commercial landlords must find the right fit for these spaces to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and maximize occupancy.
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