I
worked at Zellers in Orillia in 1970, back when there were 2 stores. One, Downtown
and the new County Fair Plaza location- which I helped open.
I was
Department Head of Cameras and Records.
I didn’t
know a thing about cameras- especially the 35’s but I sold them.
Records?
Now, that I knew about. I had just finished my radio broadcasting course and
was waiting for my first job. I had resumes out but things were quiet except for
a job offer way in Northern Ontario.
I said
no to that.
So I
worked at Zellers. In January of 1971 I got a call from a Radio Station in
Midland who basically hired me on the spot. I gave the mandatory notice of two
weeks and started my radio career.
However,
I have some memories of Zellers- both as an employee and a customer I wish to
share. After visiting the Zellers Store that is going out of business to make
way for the “All American Target” at Orillia Square, I realized I would miss
Zellers and their “Truly Canadian” sell line.
Not
many of those left these days.
Governments
and business have allowed our Canadian retail giants to go bankrupt or go
American.
Remember
Eaton’s? Simpsons? Sam the Record Man? K Mart (OK- American based),
Woolworth’s,
Metropolitan, Coles, Simpson-Sears and more.
That’s
why it’s important to shop at Giant Tiger, The Bay, Canadian Tire, Joe Fresh,
Mark’s Work Warehouse, Winners and more to keep these Canadian businesses
going. Just because there’s a Yankee-Doodle Flag flying from the mast doesn’t
mean it’s the best.
So,
memories.
I already
told you I worked in the Camera and Record Department. What fun!
Friday
nights and Saturdays were wickedly busy. I had my own till too- back in the
days when the cash register did NOT tell you how much change to give back to the
customer.
I can’t
remember if we had CHARGEX yet. Chargex was a credit card that came to be known
as VISA. I know there was a Credit Department to pay for items “on time” as it
was called. I used to direct customers who were purchasing expensive cameras or
lenses to that department.
At
Zellers, I got 15 % off store-wide practically on purchases.
I
bought my first Colour Television there saving 15%. A Zellers Bradford brand.
My parents
bought me a Zellers transistor radio- it was AM only (stop laughing!) , when I graduated from Broadcasting School. I
still have it.
Seafoam
green in colour.
Bradford
label still attached.
It
still works and it still only receives AM signals, of course.
A
dinosaur in the radio electronics world!
I was working
at Zellers when I got my call to Radio.
I still
see Cathy- who I worked with at the new store, around town. She spent an entire
career with Zellers and I believe she did quite well.
I still
have two standing Santa Clauses I bought at the re-vamped Country Fair store
when Tom and I moved back here in 1992.
We
still have two quilts we purchase from the lower level of the Downtown Zellers
Store.
I remember
the rainy day opening of Downtown Zellers. CFOR was there broadcasting from
their trailer on the main street right in front of the store. Years later when
I worked at CFOR I did remote broadcasts quite frequently at both Zeller’s
locations.
I recorded
the in-store retail announcements for the County Fair location.
In
recent years I would shop at the Zellers in Orillia Square as soon as the shelves
were stocked with Christmas Decorations. I love Alfred Sung decorations and I
would shop early to get the best selection. Some years I would even get great
deals on Boxing Day on all Alfred Sung decorations. Now I don’t know where I’ll
be able to buy them.
Maybe
The Bay?
However,
although we should have a Bay in Orillia- we don’t.
In
recent years, I would get my 10% off ever Senior’s Day. The first time I asked
for my discount, I had to show my Driver’s Licence- twice!
You
have to love that! The checkout lady didn’t believe that I was over 55!
I was
57 at the time!
The
Snack Bar called “The Skillet” at the Downtown location made the best toasted
western sandwiches with great fries. The Toasted Westerns at the Golden Dragon were
equally good but more expensive.
Besides,
the Dragon was a “real restaurant”.
The
Skillet was a snack bar.
The Dragon
made Cherry Cokes.
The
Skillet had great strawberry milkshakes.
Ying
and Yang.
Apples
and Oranges.
Many
times you would have to wait for a booth or a stool at the lunch counter. It
was worth it. The Skillet with it’s sunny yellow walls decorated with copper
fry pans and the words “The Skillet Restaurant” was manned (or womanned!) by
slender, older ladies in uniforms and waitress caps which were attached to
their heads with bobby pins stuck through hairnets that covered their heads.
A
pencil was stuffed behind an ear.
A “Guest
Check” tablet to write down orders was stuffed in an apron pocket. While you
ate, you could sit and watch people shop.
If you
were very lucky you were able to sit in a window booth to watch shoppers scurry
on by- especially at Christmas when all of Orillia’s population
Christmas-Shopped Downtown. Those were the days when that “other” city to our
south didn’t even have a mall insight and their downtown Zellers store was old,
out of date and embarrassing to shop at.
Here in
Orillia on dark, rainy days, it felt comfortable and cosy eating comfort food
at the Zeller’s Skillet. We didn’t call it “comfort food” in the 1960’s…
Just
food.
I
remember buying my 45 r.p.m. records at the Downtown Zellers. At one time they
were 66 cents. I’ll bet if I check in one of my record boxes, I could still
find a Zellers price tag affixed to the record sleeve.
The 66
sent price rose over the years to 88 and 99 cents. Usually, still cheaper than
the inflated prices at The Hobby and Record Shop or Gordon’s Record Bar just up
the street.
However,
I liked to record shop at Gordon’s. The owner was friendly and would let me
browse as long as I liked. Once, he gave me Neil Diamond’s first Album-
Solitary Man, for free!
In
Stereo too!
In those
days we had the choice when it came to an album purchase.
Mono-
which was a buck cheaper than the Stereo version.
I had a
Stereo record player, so I opted for the Stereo LP whenever I could afford it!
I can’t
remember why he gave me the album- which I still have, for free.
Just being
nice I suppose and I was a regular customer after all.
Once,
when I went into his shop see if he had the latest Supremes Album in stock, he held
it in his hand as I walked through the front entrance.
That
was customer service and I was just a kid!
There
are many other memories of Zellers like always wondering what the word “Foundations”
meant on the wall above the ladies’ department at the Downtown Orillia Store. In
December the Christmas Decoration took up a large part of the lower level.
Yes, that
Zeller’s store had two levels.
Quite
posh for a department store in Downtown Orillia!
Woolworths,
Metropolitan and Chainway Department Stores were all on just one level!
I am
going to miss going to Zellers. Downtown, Mr. Zeller’s picture hung over the
Mississaga Street Entrance for years keeping a stern- yet friendly eye, on day
to day business.
I
wonder how he would feel today with his namesake store disappearing from our
Canadian Business Landscape?
Sad
too, I should think.
