The fate of one of Canada’s oldest retail institutions, Hudson’s Bay, remains in flux as competing interests shape the company’s uncertain future. While the 354-year-old retailer is no longer operating under its historic ownership, the iconic brand and its vast real estate footprint are being divided among new players with vastly different visions.
Ruby Liu’s Bold Retail Ambitions
B.C. billionaire Ruby Liu has emerged as a surprising force in the retail landscape, with court documents confirming she has secured leases for three former Hudson’s Bay locations in malls she owns. Her goal: to reinvent the department store experience by blending shopping with dining, entertainment, and family-oriented attractions.
Liu is also seeking to acquire up to 25 additional former Bay leases, but her expansion plans have hit resistance. Major landlords, including Cadillac Fairview and Oxford Properties, have challenged her bids, arguing that Liu’s proposals lack a credible long-term business strategy. The matter is now moving through ongoing court proceedings, according to CBC News.
Despite the pushback, Liu remains determined to establish a new retail chain that, in her words, will “bring families back to the mall.” Her first three store conversions—expected to open in late 2026—will serve as test sites for this hybrid shopping concept.
Canadian Tire Takes the Brand
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Canadian Tire Corporation has officially acquired the Hudson’s Bay brand and its intellectual property, including its recognizable trademarks and multicolored stripes. This acquisition, approved by the court earlier this year, gives Canadian Tire control over one of Canada’s most historic retail identities.
Industry observers note that Canadian Tire may use the Bay’s branding for premium home goods and lifestyle products, though the company has not yet disclosed specific plans.
A Company in Legal and Financial Turmoil
While these moves unfold, Hudson’s Bay Company continues to navigate a complex web of legal disputes and asset sales. The company, facing pressure from lenders, is selling off leases and other holdings to raise capital and settle debts.
Court filings reveal that Hudson’s Bay remains entangled in litigation with several property owners over unpaid rent and disputed lease transfers. The sale of assets—coupled with Canadian Tire’s purchase of the brand—has raised questions about whether Hudson’s Bay, as a corporate entity, will continue to exist in any recognizable form.
An Icon in Transition
For now, Hudson’s Bay stands at a crossroads: its iconic brand rescued by a Canadian retail giant, its physical stores repurposed by a new visionary entrepreneur, and its corporate legacy tied up in court.
As these transformations play out, one thing is clear—the name Hudson’s Bay will live on, but the company Canadians once knew is undergoing one of the most dramatic reinventions in its storied history.
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Hudson’s Bay Faces a Divided Future as New Players Step In
Toronto, October 2025 — The future of Hudson’s Bay, one of Canada’s oldest and most storied retailers, is being reshaped by an unusual mix of new ownership, legal challenges, and competing visions for what comes next.
A Brand Reborn Under Canadian Tire
In a landmark deal approved earlier this year, Canadian Tire Corporation acquired the Hudson’s Bay brand and its intellectual property, including the company’s trademarks and the iconic multicoloured stripes that have defined Canadian retail for generations. The acquisition, confirmed by court filings and industry reports, grants Canadian Tire control over how the historic brand will live on.
Analysts suggest the retail giant may fold Hudson’s Bay branding into its premium lifestyle and home product lines, preserving its heritage while adapting it for a modern market. However, the company has not yet announced a concrete relaunch strategy.
Ruby Liu’s New Department Store Vision
At the same time, B.C. billionaire Ruby Liu is pushing ahead with her ambitious plan to transform several former Hudson’s Bay store locations into a new chain of family-focused department stores.
Liu has received court approval to assume three leases—all located in shopping centres she owns—and aims to turn them into multi-purpose spaces that blend shopping, dining, and entertainment. Her concept, described in court documents and confirmed by CBC, seeks to “reimagine the department store as a community hub.”
But her expansion plans have not come easily. Liu’s bids to acquire another 25 former Hudson’s Bay leases have drawn fierce resistance from major landlords such as Cadillac Fairview and Oxford Properties, who argue that she has yet to present a viable business model or financial guarantee. The dispute is now before the courts, with a decision expected later this year.
Legal and Financial Uncertainty for The Bay
Behind these developments, the remnants of Hudson’s Bay Company continue to unwind through a web of asset sales and legal disputes. According to CBC and Global News, the company is liquidating leases and properties to raise funds and satisfy creditor demands.
The Bay’s ongoing legal battles include contested lease transfers and unpaid rent cases, further clouding its future. While the brand has found a new owner in Canadian Tire, the corporate shell of the once-mighty retailer remains mired in financial uncertainty.
End of an Era, Start of Another
For many Canadians, Hudson’s Bay was synonymous with the country’s retail identity — a name tied to national heritage, historic trading roots, and shopping traditions. Now, that legacy is splitting in two directions: one carried forward by Canadian Tire, and another reimagined by Ruby Liu.
Whether either path succeeds remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — the Hudson’s Bay that Canadians grew up with will never be quite the same again.