Chatham and Windsor are losing their Target stores, as the company prepares to pull out of Canada.
Target announced it's closing its 133 Canadian stores, putting almost 18,000 people out of work across the country.
Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell says despite a ramped up marketing, pricing and stocking push for the holidays, lower than expected sales sealed the company's fate in Canada. "We have not realized a significant improvement in Canadian consumer sentiment that we believe is necessary."
BlackburnNews.com spoke with local residents to get their reaction to the announcement.
"The major complaint I've heard from people is the selection isn't that good and the prices aren't competitive with either Target in the US or Walmart in Canada," says Chatham resident Greg Bull.
Mary Teeuwen of Chatham says, "I love it. It's really clean, organized and spacious. I don't want to see it go."
The stores will remain open during a court-supervised liquidation period. Target spokesperson Eric Hausman, who refused to do a taped interview with BlackburnNews.com, says the typical liquidation process usually takes about 12-16 weeks.
