Two more businesses in Timmins closing
A local brewing company and an office supply store are the latest businesses in Timmins to reveal plans to close up shop in the northern Ontario city.
This comes on the heels of thrift store chain Value Village deciding weeks ago that it is closing this fall.
Staples' Timmins location announced just a couple days ago that it's closing at the end of July, after years of concerns over its fate.
The retail chain's head office didn't respond to inquiries about the reason for the closure or how many jobs will be affected.
Around the same time, Compass Brewing -- which opened only four years ago -- announced it's closing on July 31.
The brewery's owner said losing two key investors, one of them the brewer of his beers, marked a dreadful countdown.
Brewing, canning and selling the beers himself, Kevin Patriquin said he tried to stave off the inevitable.
Patriquin works full-time in the mining industry and told CTV News in an online message he is almost out of beer and is completely out of ingredients to brew more.
"There’s been a lack of sales in the last few months, as I've been running out of other styles of beer. With the lack of sales and beer, I can no longer afford to hang around and wait for investors. I have no choice to shorten my hours and lay off staff at month's end," he said.
The Timmins Chamber of Commerce said it's unfortunate to see both a corporate franchise and a small business announce their closure in the same week, ultimately succumbing to the pressures of the pandemic.
"Many businesses weren't able to absorb that or were on the edge of trying to absorb the loss of sales," said Rob Knox, the chamber president.
"You combine that, now, with increased cost of labor, supply chain shortages and the overall effect of inflation and just the way the economy is turning right now, equals a tough time for a lot of businesses in our community."
Knox said it's possible online retailers, local competition and city capacity could have contributed to these closures but the economy likely did the most damage.
Supporting local is the key right now, he added, saying people need to spend what they can afford at businesses they want to stick around.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.