One of Station Mall’s founding businesses has shuttered its doors.
The iconic Canadian chocolatier, Laura Secord, was among the first 41 businesses to call Station Mall home when it opened in October 1973, but its longtime home near the mall’s food court now sits empty after closing in recent weeks.
Along with Coles, Laura Secord was among the last original businesses still running since it opened nearly 52 years ago.
“We can confirm that the Laura Secord store at Station Mall has closed. This decision was made solely by the retailer and reflects broader internal changes within their national operations,” said a spokesperson for Station Mall in a statement to SooToday.
Officials said Laura Secord’s closure has little to do with Station Mall’s overall health as a business.
“Closures of this nature are not uncommon in the retail sector and are often unrelated to the performance of a specific shopping centre,” the statement said.
“The closure of a single store does not reflect the overall direction or health of Station Mall. We are proud of our growing tenant mix, strong community engagement, and continued partnership with the City.”
Laura Secord did not respond to requests for comment.
The Laura Secord chocolatier is named for the Canadian hero of the same.
Secord walked over 30 km, from Queenston to Beaver Dams in Niagara, to warn British forces about a planned American attack on Canada during the War of 1812.
The Sault Star collection at Sault Ste. Marie Public Library was consulted for this article.