‘It is a big blow’: Army and Navy, Doan’s permanently close in Old Strathcona
ALL THINGS MELT INTO AIR
Jeff Labine POSTMEDIA 5/ 9/ 2020
Crews put up boarding around the Army and Navy Department Store, 10411 82 Ave., April 16, 2020. The company announced May 9, 2020 that all its stores would close permanently. IAN KUCERAK / Postmedia
Two family-owned businesses located in Old Strathcona are closing for good because of the financial challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jacqui Cohen, owner of Army and Navy, announced Saturday all five stores including the one in Edmonton on Whyte Avenue will be closed permanently. Cohen said she had hoped to reopen after temporarily closing and laying off staff in March.
“This time last year we were celebrating the centenary of Army and Navy — a company my grandfather started in 1919 — and we were looking forward to the years ahead,” Cohen said in a news release. “Now we are closing a company that was at the heart of eight communities in Western Canada over its 101 years. Army and Navy stood alongside Canadians for the country’s highs and lows, but the economic impact of this global pandemic is beyond anything we have experienced.”
Samuel “Sam” Cohen opened the first storefront location on Hastings Street in Vancouver, B.C. in 1919. He sold mostly military surplus, which is where the company’s name originates from. The company grew into a chain with nine stores and a mail-order business in Western Canada.
Jacqui Cohen took over as owner in 1998.
Cherie Klassen, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, said Army and Navy was one of three founding pillars for the area with the others being United Cycle and Pruden’s.
“Army and Navy has a long history in Old Strathcona,” she said. “It goes back to the ’60s or ’70s. It is a big blow. It is going to leave a big hole. Those three really set the tone of (the area) being a retail business district in the city.”
Meanwhile, the family-run Doan’s Vietnamese Restaurant made a similar announced on Thursday. The restaurant was forced to close its doors for dine-in service in March but began to offer take-out and delivery. However, a closure announcement was made on March 21 followed weeks later with the post about the closure being permanent.
“This decision wasn’t easy for us and from the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate everyone that has supported us over the past 32 years,” the family said in the post. “We will miss all of our loyal staff and customers. Thank you for all your kind words and heartfelt messages! We love you all so much!”
Doan’s first opened in 1988 with a small 10-table restaurant in Edmonton’s Chinatown before moving to Strathcona in the’ 90s. The family was later able to expand to a downtown location on 107 Street in 2001. The family announced the permanent closure of that location in March.
Klassen said she’s sad to see a family-owned business go.
“For the independent businesses, it is a little bit more disheartening because you know a family or individuals have put everything into that business,” she said. “It hits a little bit harder.”
Two family-owned businesses located in Old Strathcona are closing for good because of the financial challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jacqui Cohen, owner of Army and Navy, announced Saturday all five stores including the one in Edmonton on Whyte Avenue will be closed permanently. Cohen said she had hoped to reopen after temporarily closing and laying off staff in March.
“This time last year we were celebrating the centenary of Army and Navy — a company my grandfather started in 1919 — and we were looking forward to the years ahead,” Cohen said in a news release. “Now we are closing a company that was at the heart of eight communities in Western Canada over its 101 years. Army and Navy stood alongside Canadians for the country’s highs and lows, but the economic impact of this global pandemic is beyond anything we have experienced.”
Samuel “Sam” Cohen opened the first storefront location on Hastings Street in Vancouver, B.C. in 1919. He sold mostly military surplus, which is where the company’s name originates from. The company grew into a chain with nine stores and a mail-order business in Western Canada.
Jacqui Cohen took over as owner in 1998.
Cherie Klassen, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, said Army and Navy was one of three founding pillars for the area with the others being United Cycle and Pruden’s.
“Army and Navy has a long history in Old Strathcona,” she said. “It goes back to the ’60s or ’70s. It is a big blow. It is going to leave a big hole. Those three really set the tone of (the area) being a retail business district in the city.”
Meanwhile, the family-run Doan’s Vietnamese Restaurant made a similar announced on Thursday. The restaurant was forced to close its doors for dine-in service in March but began to offer take-out and delivery. However, a closure announcement was made on March 21 followed weeks later with the post about the closure being permanent.
“This decision wasn’t easy for us and from the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate everyone that has supported us over the past 32 years,” the family said in the post. “We will miss all of our loyal staff and customers. Thank you for all your kind words and heartfelt messages! We love you all so much!”
Doan’s first opened in 1988 with a small 10-table restaurant in Edmonton’s Chinatown before moving to Strathcona in the’ 90s. The family was later able to expand to a downtown location on 107 Street in 2001. The family announced the permanent closure of that location in March.
Klassen said she’s sad to see a family-owned business go.
“For the independent businesses, it is a little bit more disheartening because you know a family or individuals have put everything into that business,” she said. “It hits a little bit harder.”
No comments:
Post a Comment