TRURO - The demise of a long-standing local business is shocking news that leaves a "large void" in the town's commercial core, Mayor Bill Mills says.
Wacky Wheatley's, which celebrated its 33rd anniversary in March, announced yesterday it is closing its doors.
"My response to Wacky's closing was 'whew, that's a bit of shocker to me,'" Mills said, after hearing the news. "It's going to leave a large void in this area in terms of the type of service they provide. I'm a little bit floored by that ... that's a real shame."
Vice-president of operations Bob Wheatley cited "competitive market conditions and a difficult economic situation worldwide," as the reason for ceasing operations.
"Decisions like this are not easy and never pleasant, but realistically they are sometimes unavoidable," he said in a news release. "We have been struggling for a few years, and right now it just doesn't seem like things will turn around. We always enjoyed a great relationship with the people in Truro and surrounding areas, and would like to thank them for the many years of support they have given Wackys."
The closing will see nine employees lose their jobs.
Mills, who described Wacky's as "a very conscious, community-minded organization," said the closing is regrettable not only from a business perspective but because of the store's long-standing support for community events and sponsorships.
"I guess it just goes to show, you know, the whole idea of shopping local and that supporting the businesses that are here is so
important."
Tim Tucker, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce agreed.
"Definitely, that's unfortunate," he said of the closing. "They seem to be very big on trying to see people support local businesses."
What many people do not realize when they head out of town to do their shopping, Tucker said, is the impact their decisions are having on small, hometown businesses, which ultimately are the sponsors of local amateur sports teams, school trips and the like.
"There's definitely more to it for a business than just profit or loss," he said. "When you have businesses support the community and you lose those businesses, you lose that support as well ... When you support a local company, you are helping to keep jobs in the area. You're helping to make sure people have a source of income."
Wheatley was unable to be reached for further comment but a staff member at the store said the Truro outlet is just the latest in what is seeming to become a common trend.
Of the chain's eight stores, an outlet in St. John's, NL, closed last month while the New Minas store shut down last week. Another shop in Moncton was recently sold but it also has since closed and the worker said he believes that all eight locations will eventually be shut down.
A liquidation sale of existing inventory is set for May 16 in the Truro store with June 16 set as the final day of operations.
Wacky Wheatleys closing its doors
Wacky Wheatleys closing its doors
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Published on
May 14, 2009
- Published on December 31, 2009
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Harry Sullivan
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Comments
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- jo
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:17:57
it's a shame,good service,good deals
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- Teddybear
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:16:24
I have purchased many electronic appliances from Whackey's over the years. My question is what becomes of my extended warranties on my appliances that I purchased through the store in Truro? One of which is a walk in and exchange warranty.
Will Whackey's be issuing a rebate for the money I paid for the warranty or am I at a loss and without an extended warranty now? -
- Confused
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:15:39
As an employee of our local Wal-Mart it is easy for you to say our service is not the best. To place blame on us as a big box store for all kinds of misery that happens to fall on our community-Yet you keep coming back !!! We are competitive in the market and are able to supply consumers with high end products or budget items .With the economy the way it is everyone should be smiling when they walk through our doors. It's the little savings that help alot.
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- nathan
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:12:58
why would this come as a shock? walmart has all but sealed up the electronics end of truro.Does our mayor not remember all the good things he said about walmart when it opened?Wackys had a good kick at the can and enjoyed little or no competition for a couple of decades...thats what business is all about....maybe they should have invested in a better store front...that place looked like a five and dime.........
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- Jack on the rocks
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:11:06
Hey TeddyBear,don't hold your breath waiting for the cheque.A friend of mine paid $1800 cash for something they had to order.They took his cash and closed the store 1 week later(Moncton location).Pretty good chance they knew they were closing.No cash and no product,just ripped him off.
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- Timmah
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:10:23
The only loss here is the lack of service, ugly store, and employees with the knowledge if a salesman and no experience, crappy computers that i as a tech had the unfortunate pleasure of giving it a total overhaul and making it work the first time, and all they did for service when PCs crashed is put in the recovery disc, any idiot can do that, but seriously, a loss? no id say more a gain for the bigger guys that can keep up, hell G&G Computers kicks fail safe, staples Whackys,and any other computer shop in town, now the scavengers will have less to look forward to each night,.
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- RESIDENT
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:10:15
AGREE FULLY WITH EVERY ONES COMMENTS. BUT IT IS SIMPLY PUT, A RESULT OF WALMART!!! IM A WALMART BASHER, DO NOT LIKE THAT STORE AT ALL FOR WHAT IT HAS DONE TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MOVIES OUT THERE THAT DEMONSTRATE TO THOSE WHO HAVE NO IDEA THE REAL EFFECTS WALMART HAS ON A SMALL COMMUNITY. YOU TAKE NEW GLASGOW FOR INSTANCE, THERE MALL LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE TRUROS FOR THE FACT THAT SINCE WALMART MOVED TO TOWN, ANY OTHER SMALLER, MORE EXPENSIVE BUSINESS COULDNT KEEP UP, AND HAD TO CLOSE DOWN!! SO I FEEL WACKYS PAIN, THOUGH ONLY WAS THERE ONCE, AS I DONT BUY ELECTRONICS BRAND NEW (HAND-ME DOWNS OR GIFTS)
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- James
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:07:07
I have to agree, while its sad we are losing a local business and causing loss of employment, very little was done by the business to attract new business such as revitalize store front to look more appealilng. The current store looked liked a back alley trading store, as did the one in New Minas.
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- Jackie
- - January 18, 2010 at 11:05:33
I agree with the above. I have never been inpressed with the service there. The handful of times I have been there, the employees seemed rude and not very helpful. This is not surprising at all, they are over priced, and as earlier stated, people will choose the chepaer product. I certainly can't afford to spend extra money on an identical product for service just as bad as Wal Mart.
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- V
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:56:01
People were warned when Walmart opened here that it would forever change the town's dynamics and ability to run a local businesses and remain profitable.
This closure is a big loss to Truro. The bad news is that if you live in Truro and you want something other than cheap-no-warranty-no-name-generic-electronics you will have to travel or buy unseen online.
Sorry to see this and the other places that have closed down go. I'm also sorry to see Truro turn into a big discount bin town. -
- Greg
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:50:46
As far as Extended Warranties for Computer products, you can bring the product to GEMS Computers on 7 Dominion Street in Truro as we can perform the work for the extended warranty company. We also provide manufacturers warranty for any HP computers, ACER Desktops, or Toshiba Notebooks that you may have purchased
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- Highwayman
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:50:14
Good riddance!!! Close up all small local business and bring in a super Wal Mart.
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- Quinn
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:42:26
The funny thing I see in all this is that we keep saying Wackys was a small business, when in fact it was a multi chain store originally, that eventually joined Audiotronics, making it part of a national presence.
Walmart was not the issue, this was just a business decision to leave a market that was not supporting it. They just didn't bring enough to the table to warrant buying from them. -
- AJ
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:42:18
I agree with Nathan Staples. Wal-Mart is a big part of this happening.
That being said, I don't think it's Wal-Mart's FAULT. It's OUR fault as customers. We chose to go for the lowest price instead of supporting a local business.
It's the way capitalism works. We can't blame Wal-Mart for giving us what we want!
As for Wacky Wheatly's as a store, I can't say I'm disappointed. Their service to me has always been lousy. At least at Wal-Mart you pay less for that bad service. -
- Mike
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:42:08
To the comments about Whacky's being overpriced - they price-matched, keeping them competitive with even the big box stores. This was an effort on their part to keep and attract new business. Regardless of the service that people did or did not get (the service I got was fine), I think that Whacky's closing its doors in Truro is a big blow to the community, and its absence will be felt throughout.
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- bruce
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:41:02
Schedenfreud is the joy in the misery of others!
Have some heart for the folks who lost their jobs.
Nice bunch!!
Only,those the shoe fits of course. -
- jamie
- - January 18, 2010 at 10:38:33
Its a shame , tho i work in one of those big box stores Ive bought stereo gear for the car for years from the boys at wackys . The downfall to truro is Now you have Walmart or Staples Unless you venture to Dartmouth Crossing =]
