Throughout the 21st century, retail businesses in Canada have felt the pressures of foreign store expansions into the country, as well as a shift towards online retail. As a result, closures have been a mix of stores unique to the nation, as well as newcomers like Target Canada.

List of retailers

Name Type Date announced Locations affected Situation Sources Addition Elle clothing June 2020 77 Part of a larger restructuring of its owner, Reitmans. The company owns another plus-size retailer, Penningtons. Agnew-Surpass shoes August 2000 223 Bankruptcy Best Buy Electronics and Home Appliances January 31, 2013 7 Bath & Body Works bath May 2020 1 Described as "rightsizing", it was part of a larger closure by L Brands. Bentley Leathers accessories December 2019 90 Bose audio January 2020 3 The Bombay Company home January 2019 - Insolvency of owner Fluid Brands Inc Bowring home January 2019 - Insolvency of owner Fluid Brands Inc Bryan's clothing 2009 27 Fell victim to the Great Recession Claire's accessories February 2009 9 DavidsTea food July 2020 82 COVID-19 impacts. Future Shop electronics January 2013 8 Future Shop electronics 2014–2015 8+ Including Boucherville, Greenfield Park, Montreal, Ottawa, Regina, Kingston, New Minas, and New Glasgow. Future Shop electronics March 2015 66 The other 65 locations were rebranded as Best Buy. GameStop Canada gaming 2020–2021 2 Gymboree kids' clothing January 2019 49 HMV music 2017 97 Debt and declining sales. Sunrise Records purchased 70 of the leases, reopening the stores under their own brand. Holt Renfrew department August 2014 3 Locations in Ottawa, Quebec City, and Winnipeg Holt Renfrew department May 2019 1 Retailer had a downtown Edmonton store since 1950. Hudson's Bay Company department May 2020/ June 2025 1/ 96 Closure of a 207-year-old location/ Closure of remaining 96 stores due to Bankruptcy (1B$ in debt).Lowe's CanadadepartmentDecember 2023 - Jean Machine clothing November 2018 24 Remaining stores. Mariposa clothing September 2008 Bankruptcy due to the 2008 financial crisis Nando's restaurant May 2020 21 After closures, the chain had 27 locations open across Canada. Nordstrom department March 2023 6 Pier 1 Imports Home goods February 2020 67 Bankruptcy Sears Canada department June 2017 59 Sears Canada department October 2017 74 Sears Home home October 2017 8 Sears Hometown department October 2017 49 Staples Office supplies and Electronics 2014 15 move to online sales Stokes Home goods February 2020 40 Bankruptcy Thyme Maternity clothing June 2020 54 Part of a larger restructuring of its owner, Reitmans. Town Shoes shoes August 2018 38 Citing competition. Victoria's Secret lingerie May 2020 13 Rightsizing Williams Sonoma kitchen November 2019 2 Both locations in Montreal. Walmart Department 2021 3 in ON, 2 in AB, 1 in NL due to low sales Zellers liquidation 2011–2013 189 Target acquires the leases of 189 Zellers stores, most of which it would convert into their own stores. Zellers would continue as a chain in 64 smaller communities. Zellers liquidation 2012 64 HBC announces that it would not continue the Zellers brand in smaller communities. Zellers liquidation 2020 2 The final locations served as liquidation stores for Hudson's Bay.

The final two Overwaitea Foods stores were closed in 2018; these locations reopened as Save-On-Foods.

References