Peavy Mart, self-described as “Your Rural Lifestyles Store” has announced it is going to close nearly 22 locations across Ontario and Nova Scotia by the end of April.

In a news release, the President and CEO of Peavey Industries LP said, “The Canadian retail environment has faced significant disruption over recent years, and Peavey has not been immune to these challenges.” Doug Anderson adds, “We recognize that difficult decisions like these are necessary to create a more stable foundation for the long-term success of our business.”

Social media is buzzing with rumours that all 90 of the company’s stores will shut down at the end of April including its flagship location in Red Deer.   Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Red Deer, Alta., the retailer is known for its commitment to rural communities. The company has not made any such announcement that all locations will close.

Peavey Mart’s website says that it is 100 per cent Canadian and employee-owned.  The following locations will be closing as part of this restructuring: Arnprior, Bedford, Bowmanville, Brockville, Chatham, Collingwood, Cornwall, Goderich, Grimsby, Kingston, Kitchener, Lambeth, Mount Forest, New Liskeard, Sarnia, Smiths Falls, St. Catharines, St. Jacobs, St. Thomas, Sudbury, Woodstock, and Uxbridge. Additionally, the Rockland and Hyde Park locations, previously announced, will also be closing.

Listeners have reached out to our newsroom with one indicating in Saskatoon they were told there would be no returns on purchases because the store was closing while another listener in North Battleford, who was shopping at Peavey Mart on the weekend, was informed by employees that they were notified on Thursday the store was closing.  A phone call directly to the store only yielded being furnished with an email address at Peavey Mart’s head office from which there has yet to be a reply.