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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.