Communities react to Peavey Mart closures

The company is closing all of its Canadian locations

Canadians are coming to grips with Peavey Mart’s decision to close all its stores across the country.

“This news makes me so sad,” a user named Joan said on X underneath the company’s announcement. “I loved shopping in your Medicine Hat store. I appreciated being able to bring in my dog to help her socialize a bit. I’ll miss your helpful staff and all the cool stuff the store carried.”

The Alberta-based company announced on Jan. 27 that it obtained creditor protection and decided to close about 90 Peavey Mart stores and six MainStreet Hardware stores.

Changes in the Canadian retail industry, inflation and difficult regulatory challenges have created obstacles for the company, Peavey Mart said in its release.

In Manning, Alta., local officials are concerned about what these closures could mean for community members.

Terry Ungarian, councillor and reeve for the County of Northern Lights, described Peavey Marts to the Calgary Herald as “catered to rural life” because it carried farm supplies and other related goods.

“If they close the doors, I’m not sure that anybody will be able to reopen it again,” he told the newspaper.

On its Facebook page, Peavey Mart calls itself “Your Rural Lifestyle Store.”

The closure announcement on its page has received multiple comments from people sharing memories related to the store.

“I remember going to Peavey Mart with my Grandpa when I was little,” Donna Tegart wrote on Facebook about the Weyburn, Sask. store. “My Grandpa would get teased from other people but He always said Peavey Mart was walking into family members!”

“Peavey Mart was my favourite store to shop. I spent many hours wandering the aisles looking for cool stuff,” said Casey Benton on Facebook. “Anytime I needed something for my acreage Peavey Mart was always the first thought. I will miss this store. I hope for all the best for your staff.”

“I started work at Peavey Mart in 2004. It was the best decision I made!” Lorrain Olsen Storvik wrote about the Camrose, Alta. location. “I had two job interviews that day and chose to work for Peavey over Walmart because I could see myself selling hardware, tools, feed and you name it over trying to sell makeup! I’m a country girl from way back which also helped me make my decision.”

Do you have any fond memories of Peavey Mart? Farms.com would love to hear about them.