Woodward's

Woodward's was the name of a department store which operated in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada for one hundred years, before its sale to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).
Charles Woodward established the first Woodward store at the corner of Main and Georgia Streets in Vancouver in 1892. On September 12, 1902 Woodward Department Stores Ltd. was incorporated, and a new store was built in Vancouver on the corner of Hastings and Abbott Streets. In 1926, a store was opened in Edmonton, and by the late 1940s, the company began to open numerous stores in both provinces. Facing financial difficulties, Woodward's was sold to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1993.

Woodward's was a central feature of the retail scene especially in southwestern British Columbia for much of the twentieth century. The chain was distinctive in that several outlets included a large supermarket (the "food floor") as an adjunct to the department store. Many food floors were sold to Safeway Inc.. Many older western Canadians remember fondly Woodward's famous "Dollar Forty-nine Days" sales. Most Woodward's locations were converted to HBC's Bay or Zellers stores by the end of 1993. Other major retailers took over several stores, and the remaining locations were either closed or were divided into mall retail space.

Locations

British Columbia

, the day when most of the building fell in a "roll over" demoltion which was witnessed by thousands.
*Vancouver (Downtown 101 W. Hastings St) mostly demloished under redevelopment, (Oakridge Centre)-- currently The Bay & Zellers (3 floor store -was very large and divided into two mid-size anchors) there was also a stand-alone Food Floor in the Arbutus Village Shopping Centre which is now a Safeway store.
*West Vancouver (Park Royal Centre) -- (Canada's first shopping centre in 1950) is now currently The Bay (which moved from location in South Mall, former Bay store was converted to a Zellers then closed a few years after and now houses Future Shop, Linens & Things, Staples and a Food Court area.
*Burnaby (Metrotown Centre) -- currently Zellers & a T&T Supermarket on the lower main floor (store was 3 floors)
*Nanaimo (Woodgrove Centre) -- converted to The Bay, The Bay moved in 2000 to larger former Eaton's location in mall, original Bay store demolished and a Wal-Mart store built on the site
*Port Alberni (3rd Ave) -- currently Zellers (freestanding store), adjacent former Woodward's Food Floor which Zellers expanded into.
*Victoria (Mayfair Centre) -- currently The Bay
*Penticton (Cherry Lane Mall) -- currently The Bay
*New Westminster (Royal City Centre) replaced the original 1954 freestanding store in 1991 when a new store was built on the adjacent parking area, the original store was then demolished and replaced with a new shopping mall, office and residential buildings. The store was converted to Zellers after HBC takeover in 1993 and then closed in 2006, Dollarama and Labels have located on the lower main floor, the 2nd floor is being converted to office space in 2008.
*Richmond (Lansdowne Centre) -- converted to Zellers originally, Zellers moved in 2000 to larger, former Eaton's space in the mall, currently a Future Shop, Home Outfitters & JYSK.
*Surrey (Guildford Town Centre) -- currently The Bay
*Prince George (Parkwood Mall) -- currently The Bay
*Coquitlam (Coquitlam Centre) -- currently Sears (as The Bay & Zellers have existing locations in the mall)
*Abbotsford (Sevenoaks Centre) -- currently The Bay
*Kamloops (Aberdeen Mall) -- converted to Zellers, Zellers recently moved to new larger location nearby, currently a new Sears store (Woodward's store - replaced original Kamloops downtown store in 1981 now B.C lottery headquarters)

Alberta

*Calgary
**(Chinook Centre) -- currently The Bay
**(Market Mall) -- currently Zellers & additional mall retail space
**(Sunridge Mall) -- currently Zellers & additional mall retail space

*Edmonton
**(Southgate Centre) -- originally converted to Eaton's, currently a Sears store
**(Edmonton Centre-Downtown Edmonton) -- originally replaced by The Bay in 1993, recently The Bay has moved into the former Eaton's store when the mall underwent major renovations in 2001, it is now replaced by Winners, World Health Club, Sport Chek, CBC Edmonton's Studios, mall retail & office space.
**(Westmount Shopping Centre) -- currently Zellers and office space
**(Northgate Mall) -- originally converted to Kmart on lower floor, currently Zellers, the upper floor is being converted to office space in 2008 (was vacant and used for storage since the store closed).(Mill Woods Town Centre) -- originally converted to Eaton's, currently Zellers
**(West Edmonton Mall) -- originally converted to The Bay (2nd store in mall), now has been divided into mall retail space & cinemas
*Lethbridge (Lethbridge Centre) -- currently The Bay
*Red Deer (Bower Place Mall) -- currently The Bay

ee also

*Woodward's building
*List of Canadian department stores
*Hudson's Bay Company
*Spencer's

External links

* [http://hbc.com/hbcheritage/history/acquisitions/retail/woodwards.asp HBC Website]
* [http://flickr.com/photos/beinder/491826814/ Woodward's catalogue model circa 1980]