There may be hope that Fields in Drumheller will not close after all.
inSide Drumheller reported in its February 17 edition that the discount department store in Drumheller would be closed by its parent company HBC by this fall.
There have been reports the Fields in Drumheller has been saved by a buying group who is looking at purchasing some of the stores in Western Canada.
Spokesperson for Fields Holding Company (FHC) Rebecca Johnston says there is a group looking at purchasing some of the Fields stores, however the deal has yet to be signed, and as far as the Drumheller store being included, it has yet to be determined.
She explains there is a tentative agreement between HBC and FHC for the company to purchase the rights to the assets of about 59 stores in Western Canada.
“About 37 of those stores are confirmed, and another 22 are under consideration as part of the agreement,” said Johnston.
“There is a goal for a deal in a month or two.”
She adds that it appears the Drumheller store is on the list of the 22 stores that has yet to be confirmed.
“It is the intent to keep the Drumheller store going, but that is still what is being negotiated, and that is with landlords and alike,” said Johnston.
Fields has had a presence in the valley for 28 years at the same location. Earlier this year HBC announced they would be closing the stores across Canada. This was shortly after it purchased the American Department store chain Lord and Taylor.
Tiffany Bourre, external communications manager for HBC confirmed they are working on deal and that Drumheller is one of the 22 stores under consideration.
Johnston said the FHC is a group of Canadian investors eager to see the Fields chain returned to B.C. from Ontario. Businessman Jason McDougall is part of the group. He heads up Mcfrugals stores in B.C. and is founder of Bargain Warehouse.
