CLOSURE: Clothing chain to close all 128 stores across Canada

A Canadian clothing chain will close all 128 stores across Canada.

Fashion retailer, Warehouse One Clothing Ltd., which operates both Warehouse One and Bootlegger stores, announced plans to liquidate all of its 128 retail stores across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Yukon.

“After careful consideration of all reasonably available options, the Company has made the difficult decision to commence the CCAA proceedings to allow for an orderly wind down of its operations, including all Warehouse One and Bootlegger retail locations,” the company said this week.

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Bootlegger and Warehouse One are both known for their jeans and casual wear.

Warehouse One Clothing Ltd. started proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in Manitoba. The act allows insolvent corporations with over $5 million in debt to restructure their financial affairs, avoiding bankruptcy.

This isn’t the first time Bootlegger has dealt with financial issues.

Following financial struggles just over a year ago, Ontario Superior Court Judge Peter Cavanagh approved the sale of Bootlegger stores, then under Comark Holdings Inc., to Warehouse One Clothing Ltd. Under the sale, some of the stores were to be converted to Warehouse One stores, but others continued under the Bootlegger brand.

Bootlegger was founded in 1971 in Vancouver and had 53 standalone stores and 19 it shared with Ricki’s and Cleo, brands Comark sold to Toys “R” Us Canada owner Putman Investments for $14.4 million last year.

Warehouse One was founded in 1977 in Manitoba. Most stores are in Western Canada.

Bootlegger stores have closed in the Greater Toronto Area, but there are locations in Georgian Mall in Barrie, and The Pen Centre in St. Catharines.

Gift Cards, returns, exchanges and the ‘Perks’ program will be honoured through May 13, 2026. After May 13, all sales are final, the court-appointed monitor Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc. said on its website.

With files from The Canadian Press

Lead photo: Lisa from Pexels