One of the iconic businesses of Plaza Saint-Hubert in Montreal, Lozeau, is closing its doors after 95 years of existence. The new owner of the store specializing in photography since April 2019, the Ontario company Henry’s, made the announcement on Tuesday on its website, explaining this “very difficult decision” by “an unfortunate combination of events”.
Posted at 12:32 p.m.
“It’s very sad, it tears me apart,” said in an interview with The Press Lise Lozeau-Simard, daughter of founder Léo Laurent Lozeau, who took over the reins of the boutique in 1973 with her husband Jean Simard. “Everyone has worked so hard in the business, not just the owners. These are the enthusiasts that we had, who came to us. They are all in pain. »
On the website, Henry’s first discusses the COVID-19 pandemic which “resulted in a significant reduction in foot traffic”, an issue made worse by the commercial thoroughfare rehabilitation work that began in 2018. The issues global supply constraints have also affected the store.
“Unfortunately, these issues have compounded and it has become difficult to continue to provide the exceptional service that Lozeau customers deserve,” the website says.
According to information from The Press, employees learned the news Tuesday morning, when they arrived at work, while the store had been emptied for the previous hours. Even if customers have been stuck since Tuesday at a closed door, Henry’s assures that all commitments, including orders to be collected in store, repairs, gift cards and guarantees, will be honored.
Owned by the Lozeau family since its founding in 1927, the shop was acquired three years ago by another company specializing in photography, Henry’s. The latter, however, took shelter from its creditors a year after the transaction, explaining that it wanted to restructure in view of the recovery after the pandemic. Like all non-essential businesses, Henry’s 22 stores have had to experience numerous business interruptions during the pandemic. Henry’s “restructuring” included the closing of seven stores, three in British Columbia and four in Ontario.
For Lise Lozeau-Simard, it was precisely to avoid the closure of the Plaza Saint-Hubert store that the family sold its shares in 2019. “The goal was to ensure its sustainability. That’s not what happened. They made a different decision. »
But is this market still viable in 2022, with competition from smartphones? “Yes, if we sell to professionals, if we don’t close the doors to them. But I don’t believe that was their goal (at Henry’s). They closed the commercial department, rentals, repairs. It was sure to become more of a “satellite” store, they said. »
“Very few closures”
In their message to customers, Henry’s officials also said they were “very saddened to see many other local businesses on St-Hubert Street also closing.” This assertion startled the general manager of the Commercial Development Company (SDC) Plaza Saint-Hubert, Mike Parente, which includes some 400 businesses.
“In the businesses that have closed, it has remained since 2016 at a fairly normal level of turnover, around forty businesses per year. There have been lease endings, retirements, job changes and yes, closures. It’s sad that some have closed, but there have been very few closures due to construction. »
More specifically, during the two years of work from 2018 to 2020, there were 80 closures against 89 new businesses opened, notes the general manager. “The Plaza is doing relatively well, considering everything it has been through in recent years. […] But there is also important work that businesses must do to meet the demands of customers. »