ATHABASCA — Like the saying goes, as one door closes, another opens. And as Athabascans await the opening of a new fitness business in town, many residents are still looking long and regretfully at the familiar red, white and stone storefront of Fields.
The small-town discount department store announced it’s impending closure in December, with its final day set for Jan. 19. The announcement garnered reactions of surprise and sadness from residents and regular shoppers on social media, and the store’s clearance sales have generated lots of last visits to the store.
“We have had trouble getting the business back on track from the street closure that happened a few years back,” wrote Fields CEO Jason McDougall in a Jan. 10 email. “We have a great team there, so that makes it that much more difficult.”
Fields has been a shopping staple for locals for 12 years, carrying everything from art supplies and toiletries to clothing, kids fishing rods, and kitchenware.
Though McDougall didn’t elaborate on when the decision to close the Athabasca store was made, he said the changing habits of shoppers in small towns, in addition to the previous street closure’s impact on foot traffic, have meant tough decisions for the company.
“I have seen it time and time again where a town loses most of its local flavour due to people choosing to shop at massive, big box stores that contribute little or nothing to the community,” wrote McDougall.
“I grew up in small-town Saskatchewan, and it really troubles me to see people choosing to do their shopping in the city or online, which in turn causes local businesses to close. This really does impact the culture of a small town overall.”
McDougall said the future of other small-town locations like Boyle and Barrhead are looking “ok” for the moment, he said shopper’s purchasing power will continue to have a say in their viability.
Days after Athabasca’s Fields posted store closing graphics and information on its social media pages, so did the Lac La Biche location, with its last day slated for Feb. 16.
Comment on what’s next for local store management wasn’t available before publication, but McDougall did note another retailer will be moving into the location after Fields closes its Athabasca doors for good.
