Turns out Guelph’s Peavey Mart will be closing up shop after all.
The farm goods company says it is closing all of its stores across Canada, as Peavey Industries LP is seeking creditor protection.
A liquidation sale has already begun at the store on Silvercreek Parkway North. A closure date is not known.
“It seemed odd,” said Bill Fitzgerald, a customer seen leaving the Guelph location Tuesday morning. In particular, he was scratching his head over how the last week has gone in terms of closure announcements.
Last week, the company announced 22 store closures in Ontario and Nova Scotia, including in Mount Forest.
The store in Cambridge has been closed for a few months.
Jest Sidloski, vice-president of marketing and customer experience at Peavey Industries LP, told GuelphToday last week there were no plans “at this time” to close the Guelph store.
The Silvercreek store used to be a TSC (Tractor Supply Company), until Peavey bought the brand in 2016 and changed the name.
According to the Peavey Mart website, the company began in 1967 in Dawson Creek, BC under the name National Farmway.
“It’s a regular stop. Especially if I need something, some sort of piece of equipment or some(thing) farm-related,” Fitzgerald added. “It’s the best. You always get good Christmas stuff too, usually Christmas decorations.”
Other customers, like Ross – who declined to give his last name – didn’t express much shock.
“It’s mostly farming stuff, so I can totally understand why it’s closing,” he said. Ross had heard of the store closure, so he was picking up a pump on sale.
“It’s more for farmers,” he added.
“There’s too many stores to compete against, and they’re expensive.”
In all, 90 Peavey Mart stores and six MainStreet Hardware stores are closing.
The company said in a statement its decision is because of several factors, including record-low consumer confidence, operating costs increasing and supply chain disruptions.