'People are pretty upset': Peavey Mart store closures in Ontario, N.S. seen as a loss for farm owners

Tanya Leckie didn't come empty-handed when she arrived at the Peavey Mart location in London, Ont., on Wednesday.

As a gift to staff at the soon-to-close store on Hyde Park Road, she brought six cupcakes, their multi-coloured sprinkles visible through the clear plastic package. It's a gift she's given to staff many times before. 

"They deserve a treat every once in a while," she told CBC News on Wednesday. "They are a very community-based operation." 

Leckie loves Peavey Mart because she lives on a rural property and it sells items she needs: farm equipment and horse feed. The company also helps an animal rescue she's involved with called Heavenly Hills Animal Sanctuary based north of London in Lucan. The store hosts in-store meet-and-greets where people can adopt the animals or buy items for donation to the animal shelter, such as cat litter.

"They're hosting one more for us in February," said Leckie. "And it will be like a goodbye." 

In April, the Hyde Park location will close, along with 22 other Peavey Marts in Ontario and one in Nova Scotia, after the company announced restructuring.

The closures in southwestern Ontario include locations in Sarnia, St. Thomas, Goderich and Woodstock. The Peavey Mart in east London will stay open; the location in Lambeth is also closing.

In a statement posted online, the company said the closures are needed "to address current challenges, strengthen its operations and position itself for future sustainability." 

At the Hyde Park location on Wednesday, signs posted throughout the store announce its imminent closure and merchandise discounts of 10 to 30 per cent. 

Some of the customers who spoke to CBC News admitted they dropped by to check out potential bargains. Others however, spoke about feeling a loss due to the store's unique focus on supplies for farm and rural properties.

'I really, really loved this job'

Michelle Beatson is the store's inventory supervisor. She's also a horse owner who regularly shops there. She said customers have expressed sadness at learning the store will close. Many live in rural areas in communities that lie beyond London's city limits.

"Quite a few people are pretty upset about it," she said. "We're the closest farm store to a lot of the outside communities." 

She said the store carries work clothing such as waterproof boots and coveralls specifically geared for farming and gardening. 

Beatson said she plans to return to other employment once the store closes, but she'll miss the unique culture of Peavey Mart. 

"I really, really loved this job," she said. "I'm a horse person, and a lot of people were excited when they came in and saw that I knew horses and other farm animals, but now I'm not going to be here anymore." 

Terry Fisher is a construction worker who's been a regular Peavey Mart shopper for years. He came in Wednesday wearing a pair of reflective orange coveralls. On his shopping list: A new pair of gloves to warm his hands against outside temperatures that hit –20 C this week. 

"It's going to be missed in North London," he said of the Hyde Park Road store. "Sorry to see that they're closing. Hopefully the other two stores in London will stay as they are."

News that Peavey Mart will shut a handful of locations in southwestern Ontario disappoints Crispin Colvin, an area director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. He also has a small beef and cash crop farm near Thorndale. 

"It was a place you could go and readily get some stuff you need quickly," he said. 

Colvin said Peavey Mart is known among farmers as a reliable source for farm equipment parts, feed and fencing materials. 

"They're really a handy store. It's unfortunate because now people will have to drive further to get things, which adds to the cost." 

Colvin said while online retailing has changed the farm supply market, he and many other farmers like to see merchandise in person before they buy. 

"Whether it's a bag of feed or whatever, I prefer to go in and have a look to see what the options are," he said. "Online gives you a picture, but there's a lot to be said for going into the store and seeing the product."

Colvin said the manager of the Sarnia store also operates a feed farm. 

"These people are involved in agriculture," he said. 

Here's the full list of Peavey Mart stores slated for closure this spring (you can also find them here): 

1. Arnprior, Ont. 
2. Bedford, N.S. 
3. Bowmanville, Ont. 
4. Brockville, Ont.  
5. Chatham, Ont.  
6. Collingwood , Ont. 
7. Cornwall, Ont. 
8. Goderich, Ont. 
9. Grimsby, Ont.  
10. Kingston, Ont.  
11. Kitchener, Ont.  
12. Lambeth, Ont.  
13. Mount Forest, Ont.  
14. New Liskeard, Ont.  
15. Sarnia, Ont. 
16. Smiths Falls, Ont.  
17. St. Catharines, Ont.  
18. St. Jacobs, Ont.  
19. St. Thomas, Ont. 
20. Sudbury, Ont.  
21. Woodstock, Ont.  
22. Uxbridge, Ont.  
23. Rockland, Ont.  
24. Hyde Park (London), Ont.