Reality is starting to set in at Northern Hardware, which is on the verge of closing its 3rd Avenue location after 100 years.
“The Northern” announced in November they would be shutting down.
Store Manager, Kelly Green told MyPGNow.com the dynamics of the downtown and the retail sector have changed at a rapid rate.
“As much as there is a lot of great things going on downtown and I am a huge advocate for the downtown it has changed a lot and there are a lot of options for people in town with more big box stores and the younger generation are harder to win over because they shop differently than generations of the past.”
With online shopping continuing to trend upward, Green believes it would have been difficult for “The Northern” to operate in a different capacity.
“Change is hard, it has to happen and I think The Northern had to either change and move but the best thing for us is to end on a good note because it just wouldn’t be the same if we moved and downsized.”
Green adds the response from the public after the closure was announced has been fantastic.
“Once we announced that we would be closing our doors the community has been amazing. I don’t think there has been a day that hasn’t gone by that someone has come in and wished us well or said their condolences or everybody has a story.”
Green admits the impending closure is starting to take shape.
“Walking in the store and seeing all the shelves and more stuff going out the door every day, it’s really starting to settle in and I think we have all had enough time to internalize it and to be proud of what we did.”
“We made it 100 years, we’re looking forward to the next chapter in our lives whatever that may be. Some staff have moved on and got some jobs, some staff is looking forward to retirement and some are still here to the bitter end.”
As for closing, they do have a date in mind
“We’re looking at our closing date probably being February 22nd, it’s not for sure yet but we really want to thank Prince George for supporting us for 100 years.”
In addition, Lowe’s will say good-bye to its Pine Centre Mall location a few days earlier on the 19th of this month.