Here’s a sign of the times, a shopping centre that’s seen better days. The term “dead mall” is often heard when discussing retail, with many such places (even before the Corona shutdown) becoming literal ghost towns due to a lack of shops. Losing a tenant is bad, but if an anchor it can be devastating. Here at the Town ‘N’ Country (T&C to those who know and love it) in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, they’ve seen two big department stores shutter in the last decade. Ouch!
First to go was Zellers in the early 2010s, a budget chain dating back to the 1930s that succumbed to the one-two punch that was Walmart and the Internet. The US firm Target came in to take their place, but they crashed and burned and soon retreated back to home territory. The Moose Jaw store was never to be part of that Canadian expansion, by the way. The space has since had a new tenant move in, a government social services outlet. Will it mean more people in the mall, yes I suppose, but doubt it’ll mean more business for those stores left.
Sears in Canada dates back to the 1950s, operating for many decades as Simpson-Sears. This chain was more upscale and for years a retail juggernaut. While still operating in the US (but on shaky ground), the independent Canadian operation closed in 2018. Online shopping claims another victim.
We’re reminded, there’s some retail lessons here. They’ve been witness to a retail apocalypse here and we ponder the long term chances of the mall surviving.
The Town ‘N’ Country dates back to the 1970s (first reference we could find was ’78). We happened to be passing through town, returning from our epic Summer 2019 SK adventure (articles to be published post Covid) when a wrong turn lead us here. And we just had to snap a couple pics and reminisce.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found. Or sometimes we just ramble on about Lord knows what.
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Date of adventure: August, 2019. Location: Moose Jaw, SK.
They’re a dying breed but most seem to be hanging on for now (I hear it’s pretty dire in the States). We live by one of Calgary’s original malls and it’s about a quarter empty. But it still has two anchor tenants, so it’s doing better than some.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Everything starts with Z.
Haven’t heard that slogan in like a million years!
Lunch with my mom at the Zellers lunch counter after one of her legendary shopping marathons! That was bliss.
A stop at the lunch counter was mandatory.
Losing two anchors must have been quite the blow.
You’d think a death blow, yet the mall is still open. The clock must be ticking though.
Miss those stores!
Times in the retail biz are changing and the old guard has been swept away.
My Mom & Aunty used to take me to Zellers when I was little. Such fond memories!
Everyone’s Moms shopped there!
There’s a lot of malls like that in Canada. I’ve been in that mall in happier times.
They’re a dying breed but most seem to be hanging on for now (I hear it’s pretty dire in the States). We live by one of Calgary’s original malls and it’s about a quarter empty. But it still has two anchor tenants, so it’s doing better than some.