Discount Store News reports that “48 Towers due for remake.”
The March 4, 1991 article goes on to detail the conversion.
“Zellers plans to complete the conversion of 48 Towers
stores by April 17, according to John Urie, executive vice president.
All but three of the original 51 Towers stores acquired by Zellers' parent, The
Hudson's Bay Co., from The Oshawa Group, last October are currently being
renovated to conform to the latest Zellers prototype. Urie projected that sales
at these stores will rise substantially. "We expect these stores to show double
digit percentage increases," Urie noted. The conversion will bring the total
number of Zellers stores to 266.
While the total cost of the renovation was not disclosed, at the time of the
acquisition, Gary Lukassen, executive vp and chief financial officer at Hudson's
Bay, estimated that it would run into "several hundred thousand [(dollars)] per
store."
The renovations are extensive, involving fixtures, aisles, decor and entrance
location "The front purchase pathway needs to come out from the main entrance,"
Urie said. "In very few instances, entrances will need to be changed."
The simultaneous conversion of 48 stores is said to be manageable for the chain
because, "We've had a lot of experience renovating many of our own stores," Urie
said.
Consumers are being prepared for the changeover from Towers' to Zellers' format
by advertising circulars promoting a "Renovation Sale."
One of the remaining three Towers will become a The Bay department store; the
fate of the other two is up in the air.”