Customers of the Ricki’s store at Mic Mac Mall who still have unreturned Christmas gifts that didn’t fit are being urged to find their receipts. Court documents filed by the company that operates 75 Ricki’s stores and 54 Cleo stores nationwide reveal that the chains are shutting down.
An email from Ricki’s ownership explained: “After careful consideration of all available options, we regret to inform you that Ricki’s will be winding down its retail operations, including all retail store locations and our online website, rickis.com. Effective January 17, 2025, we will no longer accept returns, process gift cards, or redeem or issue loyalty points. However, Ricki’s will honor its existing return and exchange policy until January 17, 2025.”
The email continued, “The Canadian retail industry has faced significant challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic, and unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult for our 85-year-old brand to continue operating in its current form.”
At the Halifax Shopping Centre, the Cleo store has already closed, with its page displaying a “Permanently Closed” banner.
Both Ricki’s and Cleo specialized in women’s office apparel.
The parent company, Comark, attributed the closures to several factors: the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a ransomware attack in 2021, competition from ultra-low-cost fashion retailers, and challenges with supply chains and vendors.
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