(GuelphToday is counting down its top 10 stories of 2018 from Dec. 22 to Dec. 31)
The retail landscape in Guelph changed dramatically in 2018 as three longtime favourites, with a combined 100 years of retail offerings, closed their doors for good.
In January, Sears in Stone Road Mall closed after 40 years in Guelph, part of a large corporate restructuring that saw Stores shuttered across the country. The huge space remains empty.
Also in January, the popular Exhibition Park neighbourhood lost one of its favourite eating spots when With The Grain Cafe closed after 18 years.
“Everyone that has worked at With the Grain has left something behind,” With The Grain owner Sheri Bishop said at the time. “We wouldn’t be here 18 years later if it weren’t for all those people.”
In April, after 50 years in Guelph, the West End Bakery retail store closed its doors.
“Retail has changed — an awful lot,” says Sandra Koiter, who owns and operates the bakery and its downtown retail shop with her husband Nick Koiter.
