BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com



There will be one less place to buy a cup of Tim Horton’s coffee in Windsor as of Aug. 16. That’s when the Tim Horton’s store located at the Fort Edward Mall is slated to close.

That Tim Horton’s was the second outlet of the popular franchise to open in the town, but after 12 years owner Joan Langille says traffic flow at the mall is not strong enough to support the store. “It’s sad for me, but we’ve operated at a loss for the past two years,” she said.

The lease for that location came due two years ago, but Langille said she was not prepared to sign on the dotted line again without some assurances from mall management. “If we had some idea about the future of the mall that would be different, but we’re not getting any answers.”

She said mall owners Crombie REIT have given her the same old song and dance about mall improvements and she, for one, isn’t buying it anymore.

“I just can’t hold out anymore,” she said.

Barbara and Gordon Loomer are daily regulars at that Tim Horton’s and were saddened by the news of its closure. “I just can’t believe it; this is drastic,” Barbara says.

She said that particular Tim Horton’s location is a favourite for many seniors. “ I just can’t imagine it not being here. It used to be one of the busiest spots.”

Loomer said without the Tims, there’s no reason for them to spend time at the mall. “When more stores were here, there was always people about,” she said. “They complain when we go outside of town to shop, but there’s nothing here anymore.”

Other departures

Tim Horton’s is not the only business to have left the mall in recent months. The Ideal Dollar store chose not to renew its lease and closed last June. The SAAN store is currently liquidating all stock in preparation for its Aug. 15 closure as well.

But even as businesses come and go, there are those staples that will continue to hang in there.

Abraham Zebian manages Joe’s Men’s Wear, a family-run business that is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary. Joe’s has been at the Fort Edward Mall since the beginning and although the Tim Horton’s closure will be a real loss, Zebian said it won’t impact sales directly.

“There are some stores here that can survive on their own customers and we have a very strong base.” However, he admits there may be a decline of “drop-by persons” and out-of-town shoppers when the Tim Horton’s is gone.

“The mall at one point was very good; it had a lot to offer,” he said. “It’s very quiet now.”

Despite speculation about the Fort Edward Mall’s future, Zebian said Joe’s Men’s Wear is not planning to leave, ever. “I’m not closing. We will be here as long as the mall is here.”

Says it’s a temporary thing

The Inside Story bookstore moved to the Fort Edward Mall more than 15 years ago and owner Edward Wedler says that’s where they plan to stay. He said the Tim Horton’s closure would have an impact on traffic in the mall, but it’s too soon to say whether or not that will convert to fewer sales.

“There are always going to be businesses coming and going and I’m sure Crombie is doing everything they can to attract more stores to the mall.” Wedler said he would continue to work with mall management despite the recent closures.

“I consider this a temporary thing,” he added. “If we are consistent and provide a quality product, we should be all right. Windsor can support a viable bookstore.”

The Windsor Home Hardware has seen an increase in business since relocating to the Fort Edward Mall in 1997, says owner Jeff Redden. “Our customer counts have had steady growth,” he said. “I’m disappointed to see Tim Horton’s go, but we feed off our own traffic.”

In fact, business at that location is going so well Redden said they plan to expand operations in the not-too-distant future.

Mall manager Don Burton said he could not give a statement regarding the mall’s future at this time. Crombie REIT Vice President and CFO Scott Ball could not be reached by press time.

Meanwhile, the seven Tim Horton’s staff affected by the closure will be absorbed by other locations. “There will be no layoffs,” Langille said.