SAAN store to close by August 15

The SAAN store in Windsor has until August 15 to liquidate stock after it was announced the Mississauga, Ontario, parent company will be closing all its 126 stores nationwide.

It was a hopeful new start in 1995, when the SAAN Stores Limited -- known for the past 60 years as “Canada's Family Clothing Store” -- emerged from court protection and began to restock with “fresh and exciting new merchandise.” According to a press release at that time, the value conscious company planned to reopen 142 stores across Canada, expanding the chain to eastern Canada in 1997.

The company’s statement now is a comparatively bleak: “SAAN Stores Ltd. have commenced a going-out-of-business sale in all of their locations, with some locations closing very soon. The sale is expected to last eight to 10 weeks, with some stores closing sooner.”

Steven Smith, vice president of Great American Group, which provide liquidation services with Danbury Sales, Inc. and Hudson Capital Partners, LLC, said, “we are sad to see SAAN closing their stores, but consumers will benefit from the extreme discounts on every item in the stores until all the merchandise is sold.”

Things had appeared to be looking up for the Fort Edward Mall location, which continued to offer a variety of goods at discount prices. It is not know at this time if or when the floor space will reopen with another company.

Although vacancies are available at the Fort Edward Mall, leasing manager for Crombie REIT Gary Foster was unable to comment if the SAAN location would be up for grabs, “I cannot confirm any closures or vacancies at this time.”

Manager of store operations Michael Panich was unavailable for comment by press time. Staff at the store have been asked not to issue any public statements for the time being.

The Windsor SAAN has 10 full and part-time employees.